Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

There were a few questions in there, but I think the contribution from Senator Duniam just confirms that the opposition have dealt themselves out of being part of any sensible policy dialogue in the energy area. That presentation has just confirmed it. We will deliver on our Powering Australia plan, but, unlike you, we are also taking the urgent steps needed to take the sting out of the increases that are being felt right across the country by households, manufacturers and small and medium-sized businesses. This response is a sensible, meaningful and responsible response to the current energy crisis fuelled not only by the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia but also at your feet—and we will not let you forget it. You're voting for higher energy prices and higher costs for households, and you want to see businesses go to the wall; that's what you're voting for today. That's the position you have chosen. We on this side want to see those prices come down and people be given that assistance. That's what you're voting against today. You've dealt yourselves out of being any kind of respectful or reasonable politicians involved in sensible policy debates. It's absolutely pathetic. You've been sitting there complaining that you weren't given the opportunity and wasting the time you had available to you today. You made the choices and you've drawn up the ground. The Australian people will understand—and this is a question that Senator Duniam put to me—that they have a government that is on their side, prepared to make difficult calls and prepared to make the decisions and pass the legislation that will take the sting out of these increases in energy prices that we inherited from those opposite and a forecast impact on 2023-24.

The CHAIR: It being 4:30 pm, I will now put the questions on the circulated amendments and then on the remaining stages of the bill. I will first deal with the amendment circulated by Pauline Hanson's One Nation. The question is that the amendment on sheet 1784 be agreed to.

Pauline Hanson's One Nation's circulated amendment

(1) Schedule 1, item 2, page 11 (after line 19), after section 53L, insert:

53LA When gas market code regulations take effect

(1) This section applies to regulations made for the purposes of section 53L.

(2) If neither House of Parliament passes a resolution disallowing the regulations or a provision of the regulations, the regulations take effect:

(a) on the day immediately after the last day upon which such a resolution could have been passed; or

(b) if a later day is specified in the regulations—on that later day.

(3) If either House of Parliament passes a resolution disallowing a provision of the regulations, the remaining provisions of the regulations take effect:

(a) on the day immediately after the last day upon which a resolution disallowing the regulations or a provision of the regulations could have been passed; or

(b) if a later day is specified in the regulations—on that later day.

(4) To avoid doubt, if either House of Parliament passes a resolution disallowing the regulations, the regulations do not take effect.

The CHAIR (16:37): I will now deal with the amendments circulated by the opposition on sheet 1787.

Opposition's circulated amendments—

(1) Title, page 1 (lines 1 and 2), omit the title, substitute:

A Bill for an Act to amend the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 , and for related purposes

(2) Schedule 1, page 3 (line 1) to page 50 (line 11), to be opposed.

The CHAIR: I alert honourable members, before I put the question, that the first question will be that schedule 1 stand as printed. Therefore, if you are supporting the opposition amendment, you should vote no and, if you are supporting the bill, you would vote in the affirmative. The question before the chair is that schedule 1 stand as printed.

The CHAIR (16:41): I note that the remaining amendment on sheet 1787 was consequential on the previous amendment. Is someone seeking leave to withdraw the consequential amendment? No-one is seeking leave, therefore I will put the question. The question before the chair is that the remaining amendment on sheet 1787 be agreed to.