Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Industry and Science. How is the Albanese Labor government backing science and industry in this budget to deliver a future made in Australia, and what is standing in its way?

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

I want to thank the member for their question and for their longstanding support for Australian manufacturing. Like everyone on our side, they know the importance of science and industry working together—great Aussie ideas that create great products and great jobs. Yet too often our world-leading know-how goes offshore to create jobs in other countries, and we're left importing products that should be stamped 'made in Australia'. Why is it that we import 99 per cent of our solar panels when they were invented right here at the University of New South Wales? Why is it that Gardasil, the cervical cancer vaccine, is made elsewhere when it was invented at the University of Queensland? And why is it that other countries back PsiQuantum and their brilliant founders when they invented their breakthrough technology at the University of Queensland as well? Enough of the goodbyes, enough of waving off jobs and economic opportunity.

Our Future Made in Australia plan says that our brilliant inventors and investors should stay here and make it here. Tuesday's budget was the next step in that goal. For example, with the Queensland government, we're bringing PsiQuantum home. They're Australians who want to build the world's first fault-tolerant quantum computer in Brisbane, and it will give our industries and our economy the power needed to stay ahead of the pack. Quantum computing is vital to both our economic and our national security.

The other thing we need to do in thinking ahead about our future prosperity is tackle the terrible state of R&D investment that we inherited from those opposite. That's the focus of our landmark strategic review into R&D announced in the budget. It aims to ensure we keep turning the work of our scientists and researchers into future economic strength.

Now I'm asked: what's in the way? Well, those opposite. They have no plan for Australian manufacturing. The only time they talk about manufacturing is to talk it down. They're always negative, always standing in the way and always saying no to everything. When we said yes to the National Reconstruction Fund, they said no. When we said yes to energy price relief for manufacturers, they said no. When we said yes to tax cuts for manufacturing workers, they said no, and, when we said yes to a future made in Australia, they said no.

So tonight there's a test for the Leader of the Opposition. Will he level with Australian manufacturing workers? Whose job is he prepared to see be sent offshore? Is it steelworkers in the Illawarra or South Australia? Is it tech workers in Queensland? Is it defence industry workers in Western Australia or medical manufacturing workers in Victoria? Or will he just agree with the member for Bradfield that it is absolutely the right decision to send manufacturing— (Time expired)

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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Some families are paying up to a thousand dollars more for their electricity since Labor was elected two years ago. After three failed budgets, the energy rebate announced on Tuesday is finally an admission that the government broke its promise to cut energy bills. The only thing made in Australia is this inflation crisis. Why are Australian families paying the price for the Prime Minister's weak economic leadership?

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

Order! The Treasurer will cease interjecting. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has asked her question. She was heard in silence. The Prime Minister hasn't begun his answer yet. I'm sure he may get a response, but wait to see what is said first. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. It must be interesting when they have shadow ministry meetings, because that question goes to the exact opposite of what the shadow finance minister said. She said, 'Everybody needs $300 off their power bill. In fact, we'd like to see more.' What we've done—

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Well, perhaps that will be in their—

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

Order! The deputy leader has asked her question. The member for Casey has continued to interject. He'll cease interjecting as well.

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

Perhaps that will be in their announcement tonight. Apparently they're going to do multiples. That's what we've just had—a pre-emptive strike from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, saying that they'll do multiples of our power bill announcement in tonight's budget reply. Well, we await that. Perhaps they can move those as amendments. When they had the chance to support Australian families and to vote for power bill relief, they voted against it for families. They voted against it for families and they voted against it for small business, like they vote against everything. The problem with this opposition is that they take the word 'opposition' literally. They just say no to everything. They have no plans for the future and nothing positive to say about what is needed. They've had two budget replies without having any substantive policy whatsoever. The Leader of the Opposition can't find the National Press Club to give a serious speech about the alternative policy of the alternative government. So we await tonight the view—

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

Order! The member for Deakin will cease interjecting.

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

that we will see a fully costed policy plan. This is the third budget reply. We've had strike 1 and strike 2. Tonight we'll see whether it's strike 3, and, as I know there are many over there who would like to see, strike 3 and you're out.