Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the minister for industry was asked what would happen if states rejected Labor's half-baked plan on power prices. The minister could only say, 'Let's wait and see.' Asked for his message to Queensland the minister could only say, 'I love Queensland.' When pushed for actual details the minister said, 'I was hoping you wouldn't ask for details.' Given the government has no idea about the details—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Defence Industry has been continually interjecting on the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. I made it clear the question before. This will apply to both sides of the chamber. Out of respect for the deputy, I'm going to ask her to state her question again.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the minister for industry was asked what would happen if states rejected Labor's half-baked plan on power prices. The minister could only say, 'Let's wait and see.'

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Attorney-General will not interrupt the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. She will start her question again.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the minister for industry was asked what would happen if states rejected Labor's half-baked plan on power prices. The minister could only say, 'Let's wait and see.' Asked for his message to Queensland the minister could only say, 'I love Queensland.' When pushed for actual details the minister said, 'I was hoping you wouldn't ask for details.' Given the government has no idea about the details, why won't the Prime Minister say sorry for giving false hope to Australians about lowering power prices?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank, I think, the member for her question, which is based upon a range of false premises, and I'll make the following comments. One is that I did hear the interview conducted by the minister for industry, and I thought he did very well. Congratulations. I want to make further comments. That's the first point that I'll make. The second point I'll make is that I love Queensland too, and the third point I'll make is that the minister was quite right. See, there's this thing called the cabinet, and in the cabinet when you're asked about what the cabinet discussions were, it's appropriate for you to say something like, 'I hope you weren't asking that question,' because you don't reveal cabinet discussions. I know that will seem bizarre for those opposite. Apparently it's okay to talk about who held what ministry when people are writing a book, but it's not okay to be accountable in terms of cabinet government. So I encourage all of my cabinet colleagues, when asked to reveal cabinet discussions, to say exactly that—to say, 'I'm not telling you' or 'I hope I wasn't being asked that question'—because we don't talk about cabinet processes. The cabinet is dealing with these issues. The minister for industry is diligently consulting with the manufacturing sector in particular—

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Fairfax will cease interjecting. The member for Fremantle will cease interjecting or be warned. The member for Fairfax is getting close to a warning. The Prime Minister will be heard in silence.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and he is doing a terrific job in that process. We'll continue to work through these issues. We have said that we will make some announcements before Christmas as the time frame that we have set for our announcements, and we stand by it. I thank the minister for industry for the work that he is doing as part of that process, and I congratulate him on a terrific interview. I hope that people do continue to listen to PK between 7.30 and eight o'clock, because the interview with the minister for industry was equalled at least, with respect, by the rather extraordinary contribution of Ken Wyatt, so I'd encourage you to look at both transcripts. (Time expired)