Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Yesterday, the minister boasted that the government had already adopted all bar one of the Finkel report recommendations. Given the one recommendation not agreed is the single most important recommendation—the establishment of a clean energy target—when will the government finally make a decision?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said, having commissioned—jointly, by the way, with governments of both political persuasions through the COAG process—the Finkel review, the government has adopted 49 of the 50 recommendations of the Finkel report. Senator Bilyk, I must say I entirely disagree with your view that the only recommendation that matters is the one which is currently under consideration. I don't agree with that at all.

If you read the Finkel report, if you read the recommendations, you will understand, Senator Bilyk, that they represent a comprehensive strategy to attack the twin issues of energy affordability and energy reliability. These are the issues that matter most to the Australian people, Senator Bilyk—reliability and affordability. In approaching the Finkel report, and in approaching the appropriate policy choices and policy responses to this problem, this government will be guided by pragmatism. We will be guided by engineering; we will be guided by the facts. One thing that we will not be guided by, Senator Bilyk, is ideology. It is because your side of politics was guided by ideology in its approach to energy policy that, during the period of the Labor government, electricity prices rose by 101 per cent over six years. Because your side of politics, Senator Bilyk, was guided by ideology not engineering, in the state of South Australia the Weatherill Labor government cannot even keep the lights on. The Turnbull government is determined to ensure that power in Australia is affordable and that supply is reliable. And that will shape our response.

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

Senator Bilyk, a supplementary question.

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The CEO of Energy Consumers Australia says: 'Implementing the Finkel report, all 50 recommendations, is work that has to be completed to really settle this sector down for consumers.' When will the Prime Minister finally show some leadership and resolve the ongoing policy paralysis of this government?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With all due respect, I think it reflects the difference between the opposition's attitude to policymaking and the government's attitude to policymaking—that you seem to regard the careful consideration of an important recommendation as policy paralysis. Far from being policy paralysis, Senator Bilyk, we are very carefully considering the one outstanding recommendation of the Finkel report. In particular, the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Mr Frydenberg, are carefully considering that recommendation. In the near future, they will be bringing a recommendation to the government.

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

Senator Bilyk, a final supplementary question.

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Isn't it clear that the government is so divided and the Prime Minister so weak that the only thing the Prime Minister can do on energy prices is to have a cup of tea with those profiting from increased prices?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do you know, Mr President, what the biggest single difference between those who sit on my side of this chamber and those who sit opposite is? We are interested in policy; they are interested in politics. We are interested in—

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

Order! A point of order, Senator Bilyk?

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr President. That has no relation to the question I asked, or to the truth.

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

The second part of your point of order is not in order, but the first part of your point of order is correct. But, in fairness to the Attorney-General, he'd barely started his answer. You are technically correct, Senator Bilyk; I will remind the Attorney-General of the question.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, we are interested in getting the policy right and, as is evident from both the question and the asinine interjections of some of those opposite like Senator Watts, they are only interested in playing political games. As I said in answer to Senator Bilyk's first supplementary question, we are considering very carefully the one outstanding recommendation of the Finkel report that is under consideration, and the relevant minister, Mr Frydenberg, in collaboration with the Prime Minister, will be bringing a recommendation to the government in the near future. But, in the meantime, as is evident from the important meeting happening in this building today, the government is active on other fronts. (Time expired)