Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Industry and Science. What has the Albanese Labor government done to support Australia's manufacturers, and what progress has there been on the National Reconstruction Fund?

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today we have made a big step in the parliament, with both houses passing the National Reconstruction Fund bill. That's a big one. It's a good day if you believe in Australian manufacturing. It's a good day if you believe in good blue-collar jobs. It's a good day if you believe in backing businesses, from our outer suburbs to our regions to remote Australia. It's a very, very important day. When I visit Australian industry, as I have over many years, I see the ambitions of those who want to be self-sufficient in the most critical areas of our economy, who want to reduce our dependence on concentrated and broken supply chains and who want to see us able to create good, secure, well-paying jobs not just for now but for our kids and for their kids—making sure we've got that economic prosperity long term. It's an ambition that government can work with industry to get things done. Most importantly, friends, it's an ambition that Australia should be a country that makes things. We work together.

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

The member for Hunter is warned.

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Many parliamentarians—not all—worked together in this and the other place to be able to make the NRF better. We talked to all of those who wanted to make a contribution to make it better and to make the country better. That's how we made progress. The only people who didn't want to support manufacturing and see that progress are sitting opposite. Every single one of those members didn't just vote once or twice against manufacturing—

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

The member for Hunter is on a warning.

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

they voted multiple times. And when the bill came back today they doubled down on dopiness and wanted to make sure their names were on the list of people against Australian manufacturing. They voted against it straightaway.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The member for Longman. The member for Hume.

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They scratch their criticisms on rocks that they chuck at us and then say, 'Why won't you accept our ideas?' That is their contribution to it. Imagine the fate of the National Reconstruction Fund if we had a Liberal member for Goldstein or a Liberal member for Curtin or a Liberal member for Wentworth or a Liberal member for Kooyong—have I missed anyone? No, I'll keep going—or a Liberal member for Mackellar or a Liberal member for Warringah.

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

The member for Hunter.

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A Liberal member in all those seats would have opposed this. Every one of those members can go back to their electorates and say they backed Australian manufacturing. I can tell you, there is one job the NRF has already created. It's a job for every one of those members opposite, and it is to go back to their communities and explain why they would not support Australian manufacturing.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The member for Lindsay. The member for Hunter.

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We've got a vision, we've got a plan and now we've got the National Reconstruction Fund.

Honourable members interjec ting—

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

Order! There is far too much noise on my right. The member for Hunter will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a) for continually interrupting. I can't hear the answers.

The member for Hunter then left the chamber.