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

Of course, I'm very happy to talk about our policy approach to energy and compare it to the alternative. Our approach to energy policy is to ensure we deliver reliable energy and lower electricity prices, and, of course, Labor's approach is to whack Australian families with higher electricity prices on the back of the return of the carbon tax and also on the back of a completely irresponsible and unsustainable 50 per cent Renewable Energy Target. What has happened since the National Energy Guarantee was first proposed and, incidentally, opposed by Bill Shorten—or, if he supported it, he was very much in hiding—is that we had an ACCC report that made a whole series of very sensible recommendations which the government has adopted. They are all a matter of public record. I'm quite happy to send all of the paperwork to Senator Pratt. If the Labor Party wants to engage with us, support our plan for lower electricity prices and walk away from their carbon tax—which would harm the economy, put jobs at risk and also harm the opportunity for Australian families to get ahead—I'm all ears.