Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, my question without notice is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry. Under the previous government, almost 200 Australian textile manufacturers were awarded a total of $45 million through the Building Innovative Capability scheme. Why is the government now abolishing this innovation program, threatening the future of these manufacturers and the 40,000 people they employ?

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Carr for his question. I indicated the other day it has been some four months since the senator has asked me a question and I am pleased for his new-found interest in the portfolio. We were probably still in the middle of the bushfire season. I say to Senator Carr that the government made a number of changes in the industry portfolio as a result of the budget. I would like, for the sake of the chamber, to go through some of those industry programs, to talk about the manufacturing and other workers that Senator Carr—

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order going to direct relevance: the question was quite clear. It was about the Building Innovative Capability scheme; if you could you direct the minister towards the question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question was slightly broader than that. Also, the minister has started to address the manufacturing aspects of the question and the changes to the budget. I have been listening to the question and to the answer. The minister is only halfway through his allotted time.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I had hoped that what this government is doing in relation to industry programs might have been of interest to those opposite. In relation to the specific program raised by Senator Carr, I will take that on notice. This government is concerned for workers throughout this nation who, at the moment, are going through a very difficult transition. Indeed, as acknowledged by the Leader of the Opposition in one of his speeches during the week, it is appropriate that we talk about the support this budget is going to provide for— (Time expired)

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I note that the minister said he would take the reasons for the closure of the program on notice, but I would ask him also to explain why the government's budget announcement said that they were closing this valuable program one year early. It made this announcement without any warning to the industry. I ask again: why is the government pulling the rug out from under Australia's textile manufacturers, many of whom have made investments based on the availability of this grant funding?

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The issue that Senator Carr has is that he was one of a plethora of ministers who were rolled through the industry ministries. Senator Carr has read the budget papers and he knows exactly what is going to be removed, what is going to be retained and what is going to be added, so I do not know why he is bothering to ask the question in this manner.

I want to go through some of this government's programs which will support Australian workers in the future. There is the Entrepreneurs' Infrastructure Program with $484 million, the Manufacturing Transition Program with $50 million, the Growth Fund of $155 million, the Industry Skills Fund of $476 million, trade support loans of— (Time expired)

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Minister, are you aware that half of the previous government's $45 million investment for support of the innovative capacities of textile manufacturers in your home state of Victoria has been abolished? Why is this government rashly abandoning Victorian firms by abolishing a program which used to have bipartisan support?

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question I am sure that those who are new to this chamber will be asking themselves is: why has it taken until 9 July for this shadow minister to be asking questions—

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order, as to direct relevance. There is no way that the answer has so far been directly relevant to the question. Could you please draw the minister's attention to the question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are two comments to the point of order, Senator Moore. Firstly, Senator Carr said, 'are you aware' and then 'why'. There were two questions specifically and the minister has only had 15 seconds into his one-minute answer. I draw the minister's attention to the question. He is being relevant at this point.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Abbott government are setting a new direction for industry policy focused on new jobs, new investments and making Australian industry more competitive. There were under the previous government a plethora of programs which were spending enormous amounts of money for little or no outcome. This government make absolutely no apologies for introducing a range of targeted measures to ensure that we give manufacturing workers and other workers in this country the very best chance to transition through what is an incredibly difficult time. We are determined to ensure that Australian manufacturing and Australian manufacturers have the very best chance, including abolition of the carbon— (Time expired)