Martin Ferguson (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Resources, Forestry and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister read the editorial in today’s Australian newspaper which backs Labor’s plan to establish a gas to liquids fuels industry in Australia as a means of reducing our dependence on Middle Eastern oil? Will the Prime Minister now support Labor’s amendment to the petroleum retail bill and immediately conduct a feasibility study into a gas to liquids fuel plant in Australia, delivering greater energy independence and long-term relief from high fuel prices?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the first part of the question is yes. The answer to the second part of the question is that I think I see a good amendment of life in the member for Batman because the member for Batman is talking sense on energy—unlike the member for Hunter, with great respect—

Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Who is talking no sense—nonsense.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Who is talking nonsense. I will have something to say about that issue but, if you really want to have a degree of bipartisanship on this issue, it would be a good idea if the views and the nostrums of the member for Batman on such things as uranium enrichment were absorbed by those who sit alongside him on the opposition frontbench.