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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Industry, Senator Payne. This morning, Minister Pyne said that there is overwhelming support in the party room for the National Energy Guarantee. Is Minister Pyne correct?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I fail to see how that relates to the portfolio responsibilities of either the Minister for Defence or the Minister for Defence Industry, but I would assure the Senate that the Minister for Defence Industry is always correct in his observations.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was going to remind senators that ministers, including those in a representational capacity, can be asked about the public statements of those they represent, but I also note Senator Payne didn't raise a point of order. I'm just making that observation, given debate in the chamber. Senator Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just to be clear, because I'm not sure—

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong, your point of order.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's not all about me. No, it's not, actually, Senator Macdonald.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I would like to hear Senator Wong's point of order.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, as I understand your ruling, we can ask Senator Payne questions about public statements that Mr Pyne has made.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point I was making in reminding the Senate of that, Senator Wong, was that the minister was addressing the question. I was making an observation. No-one challenged that the question was out of order. I was reminding the Senate of what is in order. But the minister may answer in the way they consider appropriate.

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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. If there is overwhelming support for Prime Minister Turnbull's energy policy, as claimed by the Prime Minister last Tuesday and by Minister Pyne this morning, why has the Prime Minister today dumped his National Energy Guarantee?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I asked for silence during questions. These are matters for debate. There is an opportunity after question time for debate. Senator Payne.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As Senator Cormann, the Leader of the Government in the Senate, has said so eloquently in his response to the first question today, the actions that the government are taking on a number of fronts are about lowering power prices. That is our priority. That is our focus. It apparently eludes those opposite, but they are the decisions we have made.

Scott Ryan (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

This morning Minister Pyne said, 'They always want to try and drive down numbers in the polls because they say, "See, we told you so, and therefore we need to change the leadership."' Can the minister explain to the Senate whom Minister Pyne was referring to?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The senator would have to give me a little more context. I didn't hear all of Mr Pyne's interviews this morning. But let's be very clear about what we're talking about there. During the six years that those opposite were in government electricity prices doubled, and they went up each and every year. Federal and state Labor policies have effectively continued to increase pressure on prices in a number of ways, whether they are jobs' destroying gas bans or moratoriums, whether they are unrealistic renewable energy targets, and if it's even open hostility to reliable dispatchable power. We on this side are focused on reducing power prices, and that is exactly what we are going to do.