Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Nippy's, a family run food manufacturer located in my electorate, is facing a 92.5 per cent annual increase on their energy contract. That's an increase of more than $900,000. Why do Australians always pay more under Labor?

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

The Treasurer will cease interjecting. The Assistant Treasurer will also cease interjecting so I can hear from the Prime Minister in silence.

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

I thank the member for Barker for his question about increased prices for manufacturers. He is the same person who came in here in December and voted against lower prices for manufacturers. Manufacturers are getting hit by higher gas prices—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order, members on my left. There is far too much noise during question time. I cannot hear a word that is being said. I call the Prime Minister.

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

What we did, along with state and territory governments, along with the sectors, such as working with the Australian Industry Group and Australian manufacturers, along with energy consumer groups, was to come up with a plan, which is being implemented—

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

Order! The member for O'Connor is warned.

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

for a short-term price cap on gas of $12—

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

The member for Groom will leave the chamber under 94(a).

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

at a time where, previously, 96 per cent of the prices being paid were under that, and the average price was about $9.70—before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has seen a significant increase as a result of the changes. But it isn't just us saying that. This is what the shadow Treasurer said about prices: 'We're facing circumstances in what's happening in the Ukraine and Russia that were not expected and very hard to predict. These pressures are driven by extenuating circumstances.' That's what the shadow Treasurer had to say before the election about the pressure that was on as a result of global price increases as a result of a land war in Europe and the fact that we are exposed to those international prices.

Rather than sit back and do nothing, we acted responsibly and we brought in that legislation. And, as a range of people have said, particularly in the manufacturing sector, this was the right thing to do. But those opposite voted against it, or they're going to vote against the National Reconstruction Fund. They were opposed to free TAFE and they were opposed to the electrical vehicle discount. They opposed our climate bill. They were opposed to Rewiring the Nation. They opposed the secure jobs bill. They opposed increasing the minimum wage. They are defined by what they're against, because they never have a positive idea whatsoever, which is why 'opposition' is an entirely appropriate title for a mob that are defined by what they're against, never by what they're for.