Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Does the minister support the New South Wales Labor government's extension of coal-fired generation at Eraring?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! Members on my right! The Assistant Treasurer will cease interjecting.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate this question from the member for Fairfax, Mr Speaker, because I've actually not held a press conference on this—I've held multiple press conferences on this. On each occasion I have said I agree with the New South Wales Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage that we want coal-fired power stations in the grid for not a day longer than they should be, and not leaving a day earlier than they can.

Recently, the New South Wales government did announce a policy to extend two units of the Eraring power station for two years. This is after the Eraring power station closure was brought forward by seven years a few years ago, when the member for Hume was the minister for energy, and the member for Hume's big contribution at that point was to say, 'I heard about this on the radio; no-one told me.' The New South Wales minister for energy didn't tell him, Origin didn't tell him because they didn't trust him, and he had no involvement in the process whatsoever. On the contrary, we are working with state governments across the board, in every single state and territory, on this energy transition, regardless of what party they represent. We work closely with the New South Wales government, as we did with the previous New South Wales government. I have a good working relationship with my state and territory ministers—all of them, regardless of their political party—

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

Order! The minister will pause. Has the minister concluded his answer?

Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He didn't answer the question.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Resume your seat. Everyone can cease interjecting.