Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

I agree 100 per cent with Ms Bishop that we should have a bipartisan policy framework which supports lower electricity prices and more reliable energy supplies, and if the Labor Party wants to walk away from its obsession with a carbon tax, which will harm the economy and harm families, we're all ears. If you want to drop your completely irresponsible pursuit of an excessive renewable energy target then we're all ears. If you want to work with us in relation to a sensible, appropriately balanced energy policy framework which helps to facilitate investment to increase energy supplies and which helps bring electricity prices down, we are all ears. Bill Shorten was never prepared to do it. Bill Shorten was never prepared to constructively engage with former Prime Minister Turnbull when he did pursue the National Energy Guarantee. The opportunity was there for Mr Shorten, but, of course, Mr Shorten chose to do what he always does: he played politics; he put his perceived political self-interest ahead of the national interest. That's what Mr Shorten did, and he's still playing politics. Our focus is on doing the right thing by Australians, our focus is on doing the right thing by Australian families, and our focus is on bringing electricity prices down and making sure that we continue to keep the lights on and provide reliable energy supplies—and doing so in a way that is environmentally as efficient as possible.