Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, representing the Minister for Regional Development. Will the minister advise the House how the government's National Energy Guarantee will help strengthen and drive regional development by providing certainty to investors, businesses and hardworking Australian families? Is the minister aware of any alternative approaches?

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

I thank the member for Page for his question. Like all members on this side of the House, he understands the importance of reliable and affordable energy, particularly for low-income earners in his electorate. I am surprised, Member for Page, to hear those opposite talking about a potential $115-per-year reduction in household energy bills as being lousy. How out of touch are those opposite to think that's lousy? On this side of the House, what do you think? In your electorates, hands up if you think your low-income earners would appreciate a $115-per-year reduction in their energy bills. Do you think they'd appreciate that? How much do you think your small-business owners would appreciate a $115-a-year reduction in their energy bills? To those opposite: hands up if you think any of the low-income earners in your electorates would appreciate a $115 reduction. None of you? None of you think $115 a year is important? None of you think a $115-a-year reduction in—

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sit down, idiot.

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You guys don't do well with polls.

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

The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport will pause for a second. Members on my left will cease interjecting. The minister won't try to conduct a survey in the chamber. It's against the standing orders.

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

I think we've completed the survey, and no-one opposite believes that reducing power prices by $115 per year is a good result for low-income earners in their electorates. On this side we know it is a good idea. We know that reliable and affordable energy is so crucial to low-income earners and to families, to small businesses and to manufacturers in towns like Casino and Grafton, Lismore and Yamba. Bill Collingburn at Yamba Welding & Engineering knows that, if it takes some of the pressure off his energy bills, it's going to mean he can employ more people in that beautiful part of the world.

The Turnbull-Joyce government is delivering. We're taking action with our National Energy Guarantee. Our National Energy Guarantee is a huge step forward. It will take pressure off households. It will help to secure jobs. It will allow for certainty of investment by our power generators and also for our providers of base-load energy, particularly in electorates like my own, in Gippsland, in the Latrobe Valley. Those opposite want to talk about guarantees. I can tell you one thing you can guarantee: blue-collar workers will lose their jobs under the opposition's plan.

Pat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Rubbish!

Opposition members interjecting —

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

Oh, they've found their voice. They don't find their voice to stand up for blue-collar workers in this place.

The member for Page asked me about an alternative approach. There is an alternative approach. The modern Labor way is to vilify power station workers. It's not to stand up for blue-collar workers; it's to come into this place and sell out for Greens votes. Those opposite are hopelessly compromised when it comes to blue-collar workers. I challenge those opposite, particularly those from regional areas, like the member for Hunter, the member for Shortland and the member for Herbert, to finally stand up for some blue-collar workers, like old Labor members used to. Get fair dinkum about the blue-collar workers in your electorates. Get fair dinkum about energy affordability and supply, and support the National Energy Guarantee.

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

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.