Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Before the election, the now Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations said:

People will be seeing in their bank accounts what the change of government mean s.

Last night's budget confirms that inflation will be higher, electricity prices will be higher, gas prices will be higher, real wage growth will be lower and, under a conservative analysis, the average Australian family will be at least $2,000 worse off by Christmas. Minister, is this what Labor mean when they say Australians 'will be seeing in their bank accounts what the change of government means'?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Before I call the minister, I am going to warn the Senate.

Order, Senator Ayres! I do appreciate that people are very keen to make a contribution about the budget, for better or for worse, but I am going to ask people to do it respectfully and to do it quietly. I will not put up with a lot of interjections. I could barely hear the tail end of Senator Hume's question then, and we have just started.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Hume for the question. I think Australians expect their government to deliver a responsible budget, an honest budget, a budget that deals with the economic circumstances of the time, a budget that delivers on the election commitments, and a budget that deals with and fixes the mess that we inherited from the former government—the mess in skills, the mess in energy, the debt and deficit that you left us, rising inflation, rising interest rates, a crisis in the energy markets in this country and an energy increase that you hid before the election.

Australians expect honest, responsible budgeting, and that is what they got last night—delivering on our election commitments; not adding to the inflation problem that we are currently dealing with, which I am not sure any of those opposite actually acknowledges is happening; delivering on our commitments; and dealing with the waste, the rorts and the mess that was left to us by you when you were in government for a wasted decade, which in five month we have started taking action on. We are taking action on skills, on child care, on gender equality, on infrastructure, on health, on aged care and on PPL—all of these areas that you could not have given a hoot about.

That is what we are doing. We are fixing the problems that were left to us. We are delivering on our election commitments, and that is what the people of Australia expect. They also expect some honesty from their government about the true state of the finances of this country—again, things that you hid in the dodgy budgeting that was done in deals with the National Party. We are fixing all of it up. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, a first supplementary?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, at the budget lunch in the Great Hall today, the Treasurer was asked: should Australians still expect that $275 off their power bills, particularly off pre-election prices? The Treasurer responded: 'Yes, it's in the budget.' Minister, where in the budget is that $275? (Time expired)

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The policy we took to the election in terms of Powering Australia, which the modelling underpinned, is in the budget. Perhaps you haven't got to that book, perhaps you haven't moved past the headlines, perhaps you haven't looked, but I can tell you: not only are we delivering on the policies that we put in place at the election but we have done more, because we inherited a crisis in the energy market, in gas and electricity, and we're fixing that.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With all due respect to the minister, I have a point of order in relation to relevance. Senator Hume's question was very, very clear. It referred to a quote in relation to the $275 promise being in the budget. Which page is it on? I would ask that you direct the minister to the question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cash. Senator Wong, are you seeking a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, I understand that the senator has now finished, but I would say to you, President, that you have previously ruled, as have previous presidents, that putting a lot of rhetoric and words into a point of order and repeating the question is not appropriate. I was pulled up many times, as you might recall. Senator Brockman is smiling at me, because he remembers that he pulled me up. So, I would ask that you do the same to the deputy leader, who continues to do that, rather than ask her own question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Wong. I do believe that the minister is being relevant, Senator Cash, and I'll continue to listen carefully.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Powering Australia plan—

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Powering Australia down into the ground!

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that those opposite don't believe in the energy transformation that is currently happening around the world and that they're going to put their head in the sand on. But it is happening. I mean, this is partly why you got booted out—because you don't believe in climate change, right? You don't believe in it. You don't believe in the transformation. The Powering Australia plan is in the budget. I'm happy to go through the separate measures that are included in that. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, a second supplementary question?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the government's Jobs and Skills Summit the Treasurer said, 'Our goals are just as clear: an economy where every Australian who wants a good, secure, well-paid job can find one'. But this budget confirms that 144,000 Australians will lose their jobs and that wages will be lower for longer. So, is the budget correct? Has the Treasurer broken his promise to the Australian people—just like the minister for energy, just like the minister for employment and just like the Prime Minister?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On wages, the policy that you oversaw, which is keeping wages down as a deliberate design feature of your economic architecture, is gone. And if you look in the budget you will see that wages are increasing.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson?

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just to remind the minister to address her comments through the chair—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But what is it that you're seeking? I can only assume you were seeking a point of order. You need to stand and say, 'Point of order'. The minister is being relevant, and I'll continue to listen closely.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are a government that wants to see wages move. I don't know whether those opposite have noticed, but we are dealing with a tiny bit of an inflation challenge at the moment! There is an issue here, which the government is responsibly responding to, and that is impacting on wages. Now, we have supported the minimum wage case. We are backing in a pay rise for aged-care workers. We have in this budget indexed community organisations so that they, too, can get a pay rise—something that you guys, when you were in government, never did. We are determined to get wages moving and to ensure that nobody is left behind. But these are challenging economic circumstances, and we will continue to work in the interests of the Australian people. (Time expired)

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

ator MARIELLE SMITH () (): My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's budget and, in particular, how it is delivering cost-of-living relief for Australians?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for the question. Last night the Treasurer delivered a responsible budget that is right for the times and that readies us for the future. The budget confronts challenges that have been ignored for too long and seizes the opportunities that won't wait any longer. It delivers on our commitments, which the Australian people endorsed at the last election, affirming their faith in a new government. Australians know that a complex combination of challenges at home and abroad is pushing up the cost of living and they know the government can't make inflation disappear overnight. But our budget delivers on cost-of-living relief that is responsible, reasonable and targeted and delivers a long-term economic dividend.

Our five-point plan for cost-of-living relief includes delivering cheaper child care for 1.26 million families, with 96 per cent of families with children in care better off and no family worse off. It expands paid parental leave to 26 weeks for working parents—the biggest reform of paid parental leave since Labor introduced it in 2011. We are making housing more affordable and helping more Australians to buy a home, with 30,000 affordable and social homes, delivered via the Housing Australia Future Fund returns, and an additional 20,000 affordable homes delivered under the National Housing Accord. We will cut the cost of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, saving around 1.6 million Australians more than $190 in out-of-pocket costs each year. We are supporting wage increases for our lowest paid workers, boosting job security and employee entitlements and getting wages moving again.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know it hurts your ears, but we're getting wages moving again. The $7.5 billion package helps put some money back into people's pockets, boosts productivity and grows the economy, but it's carefully targeted and careful for the times so that it avoids placing additional pressure on inflation. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Marielle Smith, your first supplementary question?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister provide further detail on how the government's budget is building a stronger, more resilient and more modern economy?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Smith, for the supplementary question. Under the former government, our economy wasn't delivering for Australians like it needed to. The Jobs and Skills Summit brought Australians together to address the challenges and opportunities facing the labour market and the economy, and to help reverse the trends we'd been seeing after a decade of wasted opportunity.

Our budget delivers quality investments in the capacity of the Australian economy and the capabilities of the Australian people, including fee-free TAFE and more university places. It delivers our Powering Australia plan to build a future with cleaner and cheaper energy. Understand that? That's what we need to do.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGrath.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are planning for a future made in Australia, investing in priority industries to grow our industrial base, diversify our economy and boost and support regional development and small business. We're also building disaster resilience and preparedness, and investing in a value-for-money pipeline of nation-building investments through our infrastructure program. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Marielle Smith, your second supplementary question?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister provide further detail on how the government is repairing the budget to pay for what is important?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Smith. Yes, I can. Our budget begins the hard task of budget repair. We are fixing the budget. Let's just remember what we inherited—

Honourable senators int erjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. I'm going to wait for quiet until I ask the minister to continue her answer. Minister Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So we're repairing the budget, which was left with deficits as far as the eye could see, and debt increasing. Remember that? We had double the debt before the pandemic. We are the first government in a long time to take the issue of budget repair seriously. We have found $22 billion in savings, and redirected spending.

We're still managing, against that backdrop, to invest in hospitals, in aged care and in child care and to support our progress towards gender equality. We're investing more in the NDIS, deepening relations in the Pacific and making sure that we're equipping Defence to respond to some of the challenges that they are facing. We are managing to do all of this while finding $22 billion in savings to start to repair the budget that you left in tatters. (Time expired)

Opposition sena tors interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When you're finished, Senator Hume and Senator Henderson. You've got a member of your own side on her feet.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is also to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. I refer the minister to her answer to Senator Hume's question, where, in responding to the Treasurer's statement that Labor's promised $275 cut to power bills is in the budget, the minister said that the Treasurer was referring to the Powering Australia measures. Will these measures reduce power bills by $275, as Labor promised?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, I have a couple of things to kick off with there. No. 1 is that renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy—that is No. 1. No. 2: there is a war in Europe, right? And, No. 3, we are fixing a decade of—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Minister, please resume your seat.

Order, Senator Wong. When there's quiet I will ask the minister to continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Our Powering Australia policy, which was modelled before the election—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong and Senator Cash! Please continue, Minister.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Our policy, which was modelled before the election, clearly outlined the policies that we need to implement in order to put downward pressure on household and business energy bills. That is what we are doing—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And you're not doing very well, are you?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, if I can respond to the interjection: what about the little sneaky 20 per cent increase that you guys hid before the election? Do you remember that? Remember that? The Treasurer said, 'Oh, let's take this rather unusual step of not allowing that to happen.'

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Order! Minister Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. The 20 per cent increase that was known to the former government before the election—let's put that out. Then you hid it, and you hid it because you were dishonest. That's another reason why you were kicked out of office, because people didn't trust you and they didn't think you were doing the right thing. So let's just—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senator Henderson.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I rise on a point of order. I would again ask you to direct the minister to make her comments through the chair. Saying, 'People don't trust you,' is very derogatory of you, President.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Henderson. The minister is, largely, addressing the chair.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! Minister.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. We are implementing our Powering Australia plan, and you can see it through the budget. I'm happy to go through measures of it. We have our Rewiring the Nation—remember that? It's because the energy grid isn't fit for purpose. I wonder why? Ten years of a government that didn't do anything, that didn't do its job. So, yes, that's in the budget. We've got money for dispatchable storage technology, we've got money for community batteries—

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So yes or no?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please assume your seat. Senator McGrath, you seem to be desperate to ask questions, but you don't ask them—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! You don't ask them by constantly interjecting across the chamber. Please continue, Minister Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, I will. We've got community batteries for household solar, we've got community solar banks—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senator Cash?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President, my point of order is in relation to relevance. With all due respect, again, to the minister, you were answering a lot of questions, potentially—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What's your point of order?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, but not the question that I asked—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I'm sorry, what's the point of order?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

in relation to if the Powering Australia measures reduce electricity prices by $275 as promised.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was the question—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, you've been in the chamber for all of this week and almost every day I've asked people, when they're making a point of order, to simply state the point of order. You have repeated the question; you just need to stand and make a short statement. If it's about relevance, then make that statement. I do believe that the minister is canvassing a whole range of options around power bills, such as was in the preamble to your question. I'll listen to the last 18 seconds of the minister's answer and, if she's not being relevant I will direct her to your question. Minister.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. I was asked about the Powering Australia plan, which is exactly what I'm going to in my answer. So we have the community solar banks and we've got energy efficiency grants, which my colleague Senator McAllister has carriage of. We've got other programs in the budget which deliver on the Powering Australia plan. We know that delivering that will lower power prices— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, a first supplementary question.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Despite Labor telling Australians that if you were elected you would reduce their power prices by $275 each year, and despite the Treasurer's misleading statement at the luncheon today, your own budget papers confirm your broken promise. What do you therefore say to Australians who won't be able to afford to keep the lights on and who will suffer through the sweltering heat this summer?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I say to Australians who are rightly concerned about increasing power prices that they have a government that is 100 per cent focused on responding to this in every way it can and that will work with states and territories, who also have responsibilities here, to do what it can.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry; I know I shouldn't respond to interjections, but I know working with states and territories was a foreign concept to those opposite when they were in government for 10 years. That was part of the problem.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please resume your seat, Minister. Order across the chamber! Minister, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A foreign concept where the federation works together in the interest of the Australian people—I know that is foreign, but that is what we will do. We are committed to it from the highest levels of government. We will be dealing with this. That is what we say to the Australian people about it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, second supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

nator CASH (—) (): Prior to the election, Mr Albanese promised Australians that, if elected, his government would help Australians deal with cost-of-living pressures. As Senator Hume has mentioned, though, your budget last night confirms that by Christmas the average Australian family will be at least $2,000 worse off. Is a $2,000 hit to the bank accounts of all Australian families Mr Albanese's way of helping with the cost of living?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is a $7½ billion cost-of-living package in this budget, but we also accept that these are really difficult circumstances for households, for families and for businesses. We inherited a high inflation environment.

You can pretend the inflation problem isn't there, Senator Cash, but we don't have the luxury of doing that. We have to deal with the inflation challenge. We can't add to inflation, and that's why we are working alongside—we don't want to make the Reserve Bank's job any harder. We don't want to fuel inflation. We know that inflation hits households on low incomes or fixed incomes harder than anyone. So we need to make sure that what we do is responsible, aligns with monetary policy, delivers on our commitments and doesn't add to inflation in the short term. That is what this government will deliver, and that is, frankly, what we must deliver. (Time expired)

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Minister Wong, representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. The Australian people voted for an end to public handouts to the coal and gas industry, but Labor's very first budget is adding $1.9 billion of new funding on top of keeping the $40 billion of existing subsidies for coal, oil and gas. Why are you too poor to give cost-of-living relief to families but not too poor to give away $42 billion of subsidies to the fossil fuel sector and $254 billion in stage 3 tax cuts to the rich?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the first part of the question—the second part was a general political point—goes to a matter not in the portfolio I'm representing. I believe it goes to the Minister for Resources, so I'd ask you to direct your subsequent question to Senator Farrell.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Waters, first supplementary?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wow! That's pretty unprecedented. You don't want to talk about fossil fuel subsidies? Righto! Well, you shouldn't have put them in your budget if you didn't want to talk about them.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Waters, resume your seat! Order! Order! I would ask all senators in this place to listen respectfully to the question that Senator Waters wishes to ask. I want to see silence from all parts of the chamber. Senator Waters, please continue.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, President. If anyone in the government would like to answer this, they're welcome to. Minister Bowen was reported in the Guardian as saying there would be no new public funding for coal and gas. Why is your first budget giving billions to frack for gas in the carbon bomb that is the Beetaloo basin and to fund an export terminal in Darwin Harbour for that gas, all without First Nations consent?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, I just want to make clear to the chamber that the opposition will give leave for any government minister who wants to answer a question to do so!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham, that's not a point of order.

Senator Wong! I assume I'm calling Senator Wong to answer the first supplementary, or am I calling—

Order!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm interested in the coalition's newfound cooperation with the Greens, and I invite Senator Birmingham to go and explain that to Mr Dutton in the other place. Senator Waters, we are very pleased to answer questions. I have answered multiple questions in this chamber that have been directed to the wrong minister. You say it is unprecedented. All we are asking you to do is what people are required to do in question time, which is to address the question to the correct minister in the portfolio. If you wish for assistance in that, we can provide you with that.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ashamed that the Westminster tradition will be upheld, Senator Thorpe? Perhaps you're not the person to be interjecting on that this week.

Opposition senators interjecting

If you wish to seek leave, I'm happy for the matter to be redirected, if that's what you want, to Senator Farrell in his portfolio. But the first question you asked was in relation to the resources portfolio. It is not unreasonable for us to indicate to you that the relevant minister is not the minister to whom you addressed the question. If you wish to do it, I'm happy to—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Your time has expired, Senator Wong. Please resume your seat. Senator Waters, your second supplementary question?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did in fact invite any minister who wished to speak about fossil fuel subsidies to answer the question—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Waters, that is not appropriate.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

so I'm actually genuinely unclear on what I'm meant to do here.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Waters—order! I would remind the opposition in this place—

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They've just come in! The notes have just come in!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, that you get most of the questions. It is not unreasonable for Senator Waters to expect silence when she stands to ask her question. Senator Waters, you need to direct your question to a minister.

An honourable senator: Give her an answer!

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't care who answers it; I just want an answer! Minister Wong, Minister Farrell—whoever. I find it ridiculous that the climate change minister can't answer a question about fossil fuel subsidies. But my final question goes to a windfall profits tax on coal and gas. Why aren't you proposing that, given that the whole crossbench supports it, rather than giving them handouts?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Your time has expired. Senator Waters, I can only assume I'm to call Senator Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not sure which question Senator Waters is referring to. It sounded more like a speech, if I may say so, than a question.

Now Senator Cash is backing you. That's interesting!

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Answer the question!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have said to you, Senator Waters, on your first question, which goes to taxation measures and other measures in the resources portfolio, that if you seek leave for it to be directed to the correct minister the Labor Party will grant leave. You sought not to take that. You've now asked a second question about future tax policy, which I'm happy to respond to by saying to you that the government's tax measures are as those set out in the budget.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Green—sorry, Senator Waters; I didn't see you. Resume your seat, Senator Green. Senator Waters?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, President. With your indulgence, I seek leave for all parts of my question to be taken on notice by whomever wishes to respond to me, please.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sure. Senator Wong has indicated that it will be taken on notice.

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator Watt. How does the budget invest in infrastructure, including in our regions, to deliver the best outcome for the Australian people now and into the future?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Green. I was very much hoping that I would be asked a question about our infrastructure budget and how it benefits regional Australia—and, funnily enough, you asked the question.

Good infrastructure is critical to building the nation and the regions we all want and deserve, creating jobs and building better connections within and between communities. That's why I'm pleased to say that last night's budget delivered a $123 billion infrastructure pipeline over the next 10 years. That is a bigger pipeline than the Liberals and Nationals ever promised, even after we stripped out the waste, the rorts and the smoke and mirrors of projects that were announced and never delivered. It's an infrastructure pipeline that will deliver in every corner of Australia. In Queensland, Senator Green's home state, over half a billion dollars will be provided.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, please resume your seat.

Senator McKenzie, seriously!

The:

Order! Senator McKenzie, I called you to order. That is what I expect to happen. It's not a contest between you and me. I'm the President, and I've asked you to be quiet. I've constantly had to draw your side of the parliament to order. Senator Watt, please continue.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, in Queensland, our budget contains over half a billion dollars for the Bruce Highway through Brisbane's outer north and between Gladstone and Rocky, as well as locking in over a billion dollar for the Coomera Connector stage 1 on the Gold Coast. In Far North Queensland, where Senator Green lives, the Albanese government is investing over $200 million on the Kuranda Range Road upgrade between Smithfield and Kuranda. In New South Wales, our budget includes a new $300 million commitment for the western Sydney roads package, upgrades to Bringelly and Mandalong roads and $38.6 million for Coulson's Creek Road in the Hunter—a project that the member for New England claimed to have secured funding for when he had done no such thing.

I could go on through every state. In Victoria there is the Suburban Rail Loop as well as money for the Gippsland rail line upgrade. Tasmanians will get safer, faster travel through upgrades to the Bass Highway, the Tasman Highway, east and west Tamar highways and, unlike the last government, we will actually deliver the Bridgewater bridge. In South Australia, we have maintained almost $5 million for the north-south corridor and many other commitments as well. In Western Australia, there is money for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road as well as the Metronet. The Northern Territory and the ACT are getting great infrastructure investment as well. We are delivering; you just made it up. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Green, a supplementary question?

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, how does the budget end the waste and rorts and deliver an infrastructure pipeline that Australians can trust?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I call the minister, Senator Wong is on her feet.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I couldn't hear the second half of the question, and I would ask that the senator be allowed to repeat her question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Green, if you would repeat the second half of your question. I did not hear it either.

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a very short question. How does the budget end the waste and rorts and deliver an infrastructure pipeline that Australians can trust?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I call the minister, I am going to remind senators—

Order, Senator Canavan! Seriously; Senator Watt has a loud voice and yet I can hear a range of interjections above his microphone voice.

Order! It is not your point to argue back, Senator McKenzie.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Green for her question. The very best thing about last night's infrastructure budget is that it is full of projects that Australians can actually believe in. The years of rorts, waste, and Barnaby and Bridget funny money and colour-coded spreadsheets are over. Remember the rorting of regional funds? Remember the regional funds that were awarded to provide swimming pools in North Sydney? It's very regional over there in Lavender Bay and Kirribilli, isn't it? Yes, it's 'very' regional! Remember the $30 million commuter car park that the coalition announced, even though there was nowhere to build it? Then there was the absolute debacle of the Lavington Triangle at 10 times the market value—what a bargain! And that is before we get to the Inland Rail or the coal-fired power stations Canavan used to promote and never actually got to build. They promised a hundred dams and built two. They spent 10 years lying to the Australian public with funny money and colour coded spreadsheets, and it has stopped. Finally, Australians have a government they can believe in, that will actually deliver, that will stop the rorts and stop the waste.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, I remind you that when you are referring to people in this place and the other place to use their correct titles. Senator Green—

Your time has expired. I'm going to Senator Green for her second supplementary.

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, how has eliminating the waste and rorts in the infrastructure budget enabled new investment in infrastructure and our regions?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We make absolutely no apologies for getting rid of the false promises and funny money that littered year after year of Liberal and National budgets. The Australian people have had a gutful of colour coded spreadsheets, bad value for money and the shambles that this lot employed when it came to infrastructure. I've already given examples, but the list goes on.

To end the waste and rorts we are closing down the egregious Urban Congestion Fund, rorted beyond belief by the former government, and we're cancelling a number of their most egregious commuter car park projects as well. The Liberals and Nationals wanted to build car parks on land allocated to affordable housing or at train stations that were being closed down. We want to invest in infrastructure that actually matters. I've got news for the National Party and the Liberal Party: that big slushy machine that you ran for years is closed. We are going to be delivering real infrastructure that delivers real economic benefits and real jobs to our regions and our cities and, you know what, we will actually deliver.