Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister used to say: 'I will not lead a party that is not as committed to effective action on climate change as I am.' Has the Prime Minister forgotten that, when Labor was in government, not only did he support the policies he just ridiculed, but he crossed the floor to vote for them? Prime Minister, what happened to the member for Wentworth people used to know?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House! Members on my left! The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The members for Wakefield and Bruce will leave under standing order 94(a).

Mr Champion interjecting—

The member for Wakefield is about to be named!

The members for Wakefield and Bruce then left the chamber.

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

The point that we have to recognise is that energy policy has failed Australians over a very long time. It is a fact that we have to address and we have to redress. The difference between our side of the House and Labor's is that we recognise that failure, and we're getting on with sorting out the problems we inherited. We are getting on and dealing with it. We are ensuring that Australians are getting discounts on their energy bills right now. We're ensuring that wholesale gas prices are coming down right now. We're ensuring that we're planning for the future of an energy market that will deliver the emissions reductions we need and deliver the clean energy Australians expect but will also deliver affordable and reliable power.

The Labor Party can assume, if they like, as has been done in the past, that you can bring more variable energy into the grid and do nothing about backup or storage. If you want to continue doing that, you'll have more blackouts and more blackout bills to pay for. We believe that energy policy must be guided by engineering and economics, and that's what we're doing—ensuring that we have all the measures in place to protect Australians.

Mr Burke interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business!

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

The member for Watson there is shouting his head off. What a pathetic display. He's getting so red. Oh, he's settling down now. That's good. That's good for his heart—very important. Don't overdo it. What we need is affordable and reliable energy because the reality is: if we don't have it, Australians will pay the blackout bill.

Mr Burke interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will cease interjecting.