Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

The senator cannot have it both ways. On the one hand, he cannot say, 'We need to ensure more money goes to these generators in WA,' but, on the other hand, then say, 'But they are among the most efficient generators in the country.' It is inconsistent to suggest that government assistance should be provided to the most efficient generators in the country. They are your words, Senator, not mine. What I would say is this: if you were serious about energy security, then you would support the carbon price and provide the certainty that the energy sector itself has said is lacking.

What is driving uncertainty and what is preventing and stymieing investment in generation capacity here in this country is the irresponsible economic behaviour of those opposite who have, on the one hand, supported a carbon price, then opposed it, and now are bent on maximising the destruction of confidence in the economy.