Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Prior to the election, Prime Minister Albanese said to all Australians, 'I'll say this very clearly, they will be better off under a Labor government.' He promised that a Labor government will see electricity prices fall from the current levels by $275 for households by 2025. But isn't it true that, according to your own budget, this December Aussies will have to pay 50 per cent more just to run the aircon, pump the pool and turn on the Christmas lights?

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

It is the case—

Honourable senat ors interjecting—

Did you call me?

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

I did call you. Senators! Interjections across the chamber are particularly disorderly. Minister, please continue.

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

It is the case that Australians are battling higher energy prices, and we know why that is: we know what we inherited and we know where global markets are.

I think you perfected the art of 'I don't hold a hose, mate.' I'll take the interjection from Senator Ruston—she says you don't take responsibility. We've got your people in the House voting against the censure motion for the former Prime Minister who made an artform of never taking responsibility for everything! So let's be clear about who has been prepared to be upfront with the Australian people, who are clear that we have a significant problem in our energy markets that the government is working through, which is as a consequence of nearly a decade of inaction and denial of 22 failed energy policies and what is occurring globally. I know those opposite don't want to be reminded of this, but the reality is renewables are the cheapest form of power.

Opposition senators interjecting—

You see? If you ever wanted an example of why energy markets are where they are, it's because you are still locked into an ideological battle, a vortex of an inaction, because of the fight between the Gerard Rennicks and the Andrew Braggs.

Op position senators interjecting—

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

Senator Wong, resume your seat. Order, once again, on my left! Please continue, Minister.

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

The ideological vortex that is—

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

Minister, please sit down. Senator Rennick, I have just called the chamber to order and the minute the minister is back on her feet you are interjecting. It is disorderly. Minister, please continue.

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

I'm actually happy to take Senator Rennick's interjections, because I think what it demonstrates—and so does the result in Victoria and the result of all those seats which were traditional Liberal heartland seats—is that your ideological fight internally has put you out of touch with the market and where most Australians are. That is the hard reality. (Time expired)

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

Senator O'Sullivan, a first supplementary?

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In coming weeks Australians will be heading back to home to their families and then off to a well-deserved break. Some will be at the beach or some will head to the regions. Isn't it true that they'll be paying more than their plane tickets, more for their bus tickets and then more for their snacks at the servo and your government has no plans to fix it?

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

What we are saying is this: We are investing $24 billion to fix transmission and speed up renewable energy. We have heads of agreement with the east coast LNG exporters to deliver more gas in 2023. The budget had a package to give the regulators—

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

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Sullivan?

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on relevance—my question went to cost of living.

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

I believe the minister is being relevant to that.

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

It might have something to do with this! The budget had a $67 million package to give regulators, including the ACCC, the AEI and AEMO, more powers to monitor gas supply and take action. We've overhauled the gas trigger to allow it to be activated quarterly if there is a shortfall and force exporters to divert supply for domestic markets. These are all things you did not do. We are working with the ACCC to strengthen the code of conduct between gas suppliers and customers to get reasonable prices in the market. We know there is more to do, but unlike you we are not engaged in an internal ideological fight between people like you, who might have a rational position, and Senator Rennick, who continues to argue a position that reminds me of The Flintstones. (Time expired)

Honou rable senators interjecting—

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

Order, senators on both sides!

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Very soon, Australians will be gathered around the table for Christmas lunch. They will not be better off. They will have paid more for the turkey, more for the ham, more for the bonbons, more for the beers—or possibly the prosecco—and more to get presents for the kids. Is this what the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations meant when he said, 'People will be seeing in their bank accounts what a change in government means'?

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

Order! Before I call the minister—

Senator Polley, I've called the chamber to order, and you have constantly been interjecting, throughout the time Senator O'Sullivan was—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! Minister.

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

Unlike the good senator, I don't operate under the delusion that people around the Christmas lunch table are going to be thinking about politics. But I would say this: if they did, what they would know is that there is a party that has consistently supported lower wage rises, lower wages, for nearly a decade—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

There is a party that has proudly supported low wages as a deliberate feature of the Australian economy—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Minister—

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

there is a party who opposed a dollar-an-hour increase to the minimum wage, a party who opposed wage increases for aged-care workers and early childhood educators—

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

Minister Wong! Please resume your seat.

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

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.