Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I take the interjection here, because this is what it is. The answer of Labor is: do it our way or give up. That's always the answer it is, and it shouldn't be. It should be to find areas where we do have comparative advantage. I put it to you that solar panel manufacturing is not it. The industry is saying that green hydrogen is not it.

But there are things we can do. Senator Pocock spoke here—and in this chamber there is no bigger supporter of green and clean energies than Senator Pocock, who would normally love a bill like this—and he said he doesn't believe this has the scrutiny. He doesn't believe this has a selection process that will work correctly. He said—and I just heard him minutes ago—that the government is trying to pick winners. Ladies and gentlemen, if this government is at the racetrack, follow who it's betting on and bet on someone else. They couldn't pick a winner if it stared them in the face. This is just another bill that goes there.

Comparative advantage is all about productivity—putting your units of resource, labour and capital into things you do better. And the stats don't lie. This government, since it's come in, has overseen a 6.3 per cent fall in productivity in the country. Every one of us, every Australian—there are a few words in here, and I'm not sure people are saying their 6.3, because there are rubbish words as well—has been contributing 6.3 per cent less to the economy since this government has been in.