Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

To remain competitive, Australian businesses need affordable and reliable energy. They need to have the gas they need, they need to have electricity for their businesses, and they need to be reliable and affordable. That is what we are delivering.

When it comes to energy, the Leader of the Opposition writes charming letters to me occasionally, talking about bipartisanship. But he went completely off the reservation this morning. He described the considered advice from the Energy Security Board, appointed by COAG, comprising five of the most knowledgeable people in the energy sector, as science fiction. That is what he said. Then, as he started to foam and froth at the mouth, he described it as propaganda from the government. This is a recommendation from an independent board, appointed by COAG, accountable to COAG, with more Labor governments appointing members to it than Liberal governments. These are people of immense expertise—the Energy Market Operator; the Energy Regulator; the chairman of the rules maker, the AEMC; and of course Dr Kerry Schott and Clare Savage, the independent chair and deputy chair. These are excellent appointments. They were praised by the member for Port Adelaide at the time, and he was right then. Now those opposite don't like the outcome and so all they can do is smear and play politics. Australians deserve better.

The reality is this: Labor have failed to put Australian families first. They have failed to prioritise affordability and reliability. They have allowed Australians to see energy prices rise and gas become in short supply, all because of ideology and stupidity. Now we see the Leader of the Opposition complaining about jobs lost in renewables, or so he forecasts. What about the 5,000 jobs in Snowy Hydro 2.0? What about that? That is what we are creating.

Honourable members interjecting—

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