Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Minister Wong, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I refer to the secret Labor government report based on October data titled 'Estimated impacts of CFPS'—coal fired power stations—'and associated mine closures' in The Australian today. Is it correct that this report models regional job losses in the Hunter, projected unemployment, loss of income to local communities, loss of taxation revenue and loss of household consumption expenditure in local communities? When will the minister and the government release the report in full?

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

Thank you to the senator for the question. I regret to admit that I may not have read every report in The Australian recently. I find it often better to be selective about what I read. But I would make this point: what we saw under the last nine years in the electricity sector was I think four gigawatts of dispatchable power exit the system and only one gigawatt come in. We saw decisions made by the market.

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

Senator Cadell, on a point of order?

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance. This is about a specific government report.

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

Your question was extremely wide-ranging, and it also referred to a report in The Australian—

An honourable senator interjecting—

Order! It's not a debating point. You also referred to a report in The Australian and asked the minister to comment that.

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

I was simply making the point that there have already been closures and the market refusing to invest in coal-fired power because of the lack of policy certainty. I appreciate the tone with which the senator asked the question so I'll try not to divert into the response which talks about the last nine years. I would make the point that we do believe providing the market with certainty around transition is important. That is the lowest cost way for this transition to occur. Those on this side actually think that you try to get the market to work rather than having taxpayers' funds prop up coal fired power, which was the position that some on the other side argued. I've been upfront with you, Senator. I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with the actual article in question and whether it refers to a—

I don't read every article in the Australian, Senator McKenzie; I apologise! It's just not the first priority in terms of reading. But, anyway, that's okay. But I will endeavour to see if the report— (Time expired)

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

Senator Cadell, a first supplementary?

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I again refer to this secret report named Estimated impacts of CFPS and associated coal-mine closures. It has been reported in that article that this secret report shows a spike in Hunter unemployment—and about 800 local jobs. Is this distressing news for the Hunter region correct or is it erroneous?

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

I'm not accepting the assertion around 'secret report' in an article that—I have been upfront with you, Senator Cadell—I have not read. But I can say to you that the worst thing for communities is a lack of—

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table the—

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

The senator is seeking leave to table a newspaper article. Is leave—

A government senator: It's a section of the report we're referring to.

I think the answer is no, Senator Cadell.

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Oh, you want to keep it secret!

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

Minister Wong.

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

If you—

Are you done? Can I keep talking or would you like to—

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

Minister, please continue.

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

We're always so pleased when you and Senator Rennick make contributions, Senator Van! What I was going to say to you, Senator Cadell—two points. One is that there is a usual process for the consideration of tabling, which we will observe as a courtesy and a convention. Secondly, I would make the point that what is bad for communities is lack of policy certainty and unplanned exits of generation from the system, which is what occurred under the chaos of the previous government. We have no intention of that repeating. We are going to ensure we deal with this transition, which we have been upfront about, in a way that recognises the need to ensure security of supply and— (Time expired)

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

Senator Cadell, a second supplementary?

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again I refer to the same document, Estimated impacts of CFPS and associated coal-mine closures. Minister, can you confirm that it's correct that the report is modelled on the assumption that there will be a loss of 30 per cent of income for coal-fired power station workers and mine workers in the Hunter? And is the Hunter region the sole focus of this report, or is it wider and the government has got job losses across Australia?

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

No, I'm not going to confirm that, for the reasons I've articulated previously. What I would say to those opposite is this. The majority of the global economy has committed to net zero by 2050. If we are not in a position to compete in that global economy, that is what will affect Australia's GDP growth, Australian jobs and the prosperity of future generations. I know you all want to think we can live in the past and we can go back to the 1950s, but, if you're committed to net zero, you're committed to transitioning the Australian economy.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Minister Wong—

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

The difference between you and us is we will have a plan—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Wong!

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

We will have a plan. We will implement a plan—

Opposition senators interjecting—

The:

Minister Wong!

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

We will ensure that we increase Australia's—

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order! I had to call the minister then about five times because there's so much noise in here my voice can't be heard.

Senator Canavan   ! I am asking you to listen in silence to the remaining time the minister has. Minister.

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

If those opposite are also committed to net zero, I hope they have a plan too, because we have one and we will implement it and we will give people certainty.