Jenny Ware (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. On Sunday 12 March, Caruso's Italian Restaurant, an institution in the Sutherland Shire, was forced to close its doors permanently. Owners Rocky and Kerrin Pitarelli have cited rising electricity costs, rising labour costs and staff shortages as reasons for their closure. Prime Minister, why do Australian families and businesses always pay more under Labor?

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

I thank the member for Hughes for her question. Indeed it is very regrettable that any small business closes. Caruso's restaurant in—

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

The Leader of the Opposition! I cannot hear what the Prime Minister is saying.

Honourable members in terjecting—

Order! The Prime Minister will return to the question, and he has the call.

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

That is why we are conscious of these issues. That is precisely why we've taken action to take the sting out of power prices and to make sure that the legislation that's before the parliament at the moment—the safeguard mechanism—is also aimed at promoting investment in the energy sector. The business community say that that's the case.

But I hope that the member for Hughes is also regretting voting against the $1½ billion in direct bill relief. I hope that the member for Hughes regrets voting against price caps on gas. Fortunately, the Liberal representatives in New South Wales did vote for price caps on energy, along with the Labor opposition in New South Wales. The truth is that we were left with an energy grid built for the last century. They had 22 energy policies and they didn't land a single one—not one. We are paying the price for a decade of neglect, but this government is determined to act. That's why we have legislation before this parliament. I'd encourage the member for Hughes to vote for that legislation and vote for, therefore, an increase in the supply of energy, which will have an impact. You had the opportunity to vote for lower prices last December, and you chose to vote against them.

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

The member for Hume will cease interjecting.