Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. I refer the minister to the ANAO report that found the government had destroyed key documents regarding the assessment of 28 energy efficiency information grants costing $20 million. Why did the government destroy these key documents, leaving 'no record as to how each of the 28 recommended applications have been assessed and scored against the three published merit criteria'? How can Australians trust a government that is prepared to destroy documents to avoid scrutiny of its decisions?

Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government, of course, are extremely proud of the programs that we have put in place, funded by the carbon price, which is working and which contrary to all the doom and the gloom forecast by the Leader of the Opposition—the end of the world, Armageddon arriving, prices are going to be unimaginably—

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will desist from screeching across the chamber. The member for Mayo will resume his seat. The minister has only commenced and the cacophony of sound—

Mr Briggs interjecting—

Yes, he is shouting to be heard over those on the other side. If we could perhaps have a level of civility, the minister could continue.

Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I certainly am endeavouring to be heard, Speaker, because it is an important message that needs to be registered with the other side and in the community, and that is that every claim made by the opposition leader about the impact of carbon pricing—

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on a point of order: I only want him to deal with the claims about destroying documents on his carbon tax ad campaign.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has the call and will refer to the question before the chair.

Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point that I am making is relevant to the question. Every single claim made by the opposition leader has been demonstrated to be false. What we have seen from the opposition—from the time that carbon pricing, an important economic and environmental reform, was announced—is the most mendacious campaign in our history. This is what it comes to: little questions from the backbench about an error in the department concerning documents for what the ANAO found were excellent programs—sound programs funded from carbon price revenue that are helping local governments, not-for-profit community organisations and many others in the community improve their energy efficiency. If that is all you can come up with, after all this, after the most mendacious campaign that we have seen—every claim demonstrated to be false. Unimaginable price increases—do you remember that claim? The December CPI figures were 0.2 per cent. The annualised rate is two per cent. Jobs are growing. The economy is growing. What happened to the campaign? He says it is all about trust. You cannot trust one word the opposition leader says.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the member for Mayo seeking to table a document?

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Presumably he has taken that in writing, because he did not answer one word about—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Mayo will resume his seat!

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! I was hoping everyone had had a nice break and we could have all played nicely, but obviously not.