Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the minister for industry, science, energy and resources. How do you justify pouring millions in public money into polluting offshore gas when we're in a climate emergency?

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

Government Member:

A government member interjecting

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not asking you? Are you the minister?

A government member interjecting

I'm not talking to you either!

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, please. It's not entirely clear at the moment which minister this is being directed at. Is it Minister McKenzie? Okay.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am the minister representing lower emissions. They have reduced 20 per cent, and we're very proud of that as a nation. There are a lot of countries that talk a big game with regard to lowering emissions but don't actually deliver, but on this side of the parliament we focus on delivery and outcomes, not platitudes. We're focused on delivering affordable, reliable energy to support the economy and new jobs, and Australia's competitive advantage has always been based on cheap energy and gas. It will be central to our ongoing economic recovery.

On this side, we understand that gas is a critical enabler of our economy and employs so many working-class Australians. For the past decade, the manufacturing sector has depended on gas as its largest source of energy. Gas makes up 42 per cent of manufacturing's total energy use, according to the latest Australian energy statistics. That is why our gas fired recovery is so critical. It is a cornerstone in strengthening Australia's sovereign capabilities. You only need to look at what's happening to gas prices in Europe to see the devastation that can occur in the economy: prices are rising more than 300 per cent. As a result of industry and government working together, we've been able to avoid these international price hikes, with our prices being around 78 per cent lower than prices in Europe, which were trading at over $47 per gigajoule in mid-March.

We're taking action to boost the east coast gas market across the entire supply chain. Through the budget, we're backing seven priority projects, as well as key carbon capture and storage pipelines, with a $50.3 million investment. Our investment will get local gas where it's needed to help keep the lights on and homes heated in southern Australia. In our home state of Victoria, Senator Thorpe, it does get quite hold. Having homes heated during winter is important. (Time expired)

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, a supplementary question?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the interest of human life as we know it, will you introduce a moratorium on offshore gas drilling across this country?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've just outlined why it is important to back a gas led recovery post-COVID. It's not just for local jobs out in the regions and in our industrial sections of our capital cities so that working Australians can earn a good wage in high-paying, long-term careers. It is also important that we have a gas led recovery to ensure that individual Australians and working families can heat their homes at an affordable cost.

I tried to outline to you, Senator Thorpe, what the impact can be of not investing in fuel sources such as gas, and you are seeing the implications of that in Europe right now. And you know what? It is not the people who vote for the Greens that are actually affected by these types of things. It is not the inner-city elites, on their very high wages, that actually have to worry about their housing and heating costs— (Time expired)

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, a second supplementary question?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This government is paying to destroy Gunai sea country—my country!—in Gippsland with the Golden Beach fracking project. Where did you get consent from to frack my country?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are very lucky in this country that both state and federal governments, over a long period of time, have taken very seriously the need to have the right regulatory framework around the development of, in particular, gas-fired projects.

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order, Senator Thorpe?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a simple question, Mr President. Minister, who gave you consent to frack Gunai country? As a Gunai woman, I'm asking: who gave you consent?

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, the minister was being directly relevant to the question. Minister, you have 45 seconds.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At both state and federal levels there are quite strict regulatory controls on a whole range of approvals that must be sought in terms of building these types of projects, but I absolutely—

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, on a point of order?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm a traditional owner of Gunai country. My mother is on the Gunaikurnai Elders' Council. Where did you get consent?

The:

Senator Thorpe, that is not a point of order. Minister, you have 33 seconds.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Answer the question! Where did you get consent?

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Thorpe! Senator McMahon and Senator Scarr, you're not assisting. Minister, if you wish to make a further contribution, you have 27 seconds remaining.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I would because I proudly back the resources industry in Australia, including the gas industry, and the tens of thousands of Australians that they employ: hardworking men and women across the length and breadth of this country. We do not take a backward step—

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order!

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I don't appreciate being yelled at.

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, is this a point of order?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Absolutely!

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is the point of order?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is relevance to my question. My question was: where did this minister get consent from to drill my country?

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, you've had a chance to restate the question on two occasions.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Answer the question!

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I cannot direct the minister how to answer a question. The minister was being directly relevant to the question. Minister, you have 14 seconds, if you wish.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I wish to continue. Without the action that our government is taking to address supply, industry and households would be faced with higher prices, disruptions in supply and planned outages. And it is low-income Australians that are going to be most affected. (Time expired)

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, resume your seat. Senator Henderson?

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President—

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And we will fight you all the way!

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, could I ask my question now, please?

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Thorpe! Senator Davey on a point of order?

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is that I would like to carry on with question time. There are other people who have questions, and these continual interruptions are not conducive. It's disorderly conduct in the Senate.

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, you've had a chance to ask your question. The question was answered by the minister.

Senator Thorpe, we must proceed with question time. Senator Henderson, you have the call.