Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia. How will the Albanese Labor government's Future Made in Australia create jobs and a resilient critical minerals industry to create secure jobs and a strong economy? Are there any threats to the production tax incentive being delivered?

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Pearce for her question. The Albanese Labor government's production tax incentive for critical minerals will support the onshore processing, rather than having these commodities shipped overseas for their refining. It will create secure jobs and a resilient economy as we capitalise on the world's soaring demand for critical minerals. It is a significant policy that backs Australia's resources sector. It is one of the biggest resources announcements in a budget in a generation. The resources industry called for the production tax incentive, we worked with them on it and we will deliver it.

But there are threats to delivery of the production tax credit, and they are all sitting over there. The coalition recently has been speaking on the Future Made in Australia legislation. Twenty-nine Liberal and National MPs have spoken so far on that legislation, and in a rare outbreak they have all stuck to the script and all opposed the production tax incentive. They want higher taxes. Those opposite have stood up and turned their backs on the resources sector of this country. When they had the opportunity to talk about critical minerals as part of the Future Made in Australia framework, they totally ignored it. Barely any of them spoke about it. They spent more time talking about nuclear power and uranium than they spoke about critical minerals and the tax incentives offered to the resources industry. They oppose a costed, responsible, industry led response to the critical minerals industry's geopolitical challenges. They call it welfare for billionaires; well, they support an absolutely friendless, uncosted, unknown policy to have nuclear power stations right around the country in places the Leader of the Opposition has failed to visit.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order. The Assistant Treasurer will cease interjecting.

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We've talked about the Leader of the Opposition's WA script—

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

The member for O'Connor is now warned.

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and his east coast script, but what about the Leader of the Nationals? I want to know what his WA script is going to be the next time he pops along to visit the new seat—

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Next week.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We'll go see Nick West and see how it's going.

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

Order. The Leader of the Nationals and the member for Hume will cease interjecting.

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, great. I hear from the leader of the Nats that he's going to be in Bullwinkel. Well, what is he going to say to the people in Bullwinkel? We know the leader of the WA Nationals has said, 'It is essential not just for Western Australia and not just for Australia but for the Western world to pursue production tax credits.' Then there is the Nationals candidate for Bullwinkel. Mia Davies has said, 'Downstream incentives are welcome.' This is a Nationals candidate in the seat of Bullwinkel running counter to the Leader of the Nationals.

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Be ready; we're coming.

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Okay. I really look forward to that. I doubt you know, Leader of the Nationals, exactly what the mining industry of Western Australia is all about. I have seen a fair bit more than you have, Leader of the Nationals, I can assure you. You reject the resources sector of Western Australia. You fail to understand it. You don't support what they are calling for in the critical minerals production tax incentive.

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

The member for O'Connor will now leave the chamber under 94(a). If you're warned, particularly when I'm about to hear from the member for Wannon, that is definitely not a time to interject. Trust me. There are consequences for actions.

The member for O'Connor then left the chamber.