Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The members of Independent Food Distributors Australia have said, 'The government's energy policy has and continues to increase the price of food.' Minister, if cost-of-living relief is the Labor Party's policy, why do food distributors say your energy policy is increasing the cost of food for everyday Australians?

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

Can I first make the point to Senator McKenzie that the policy that she is advocating, as the alternative to the policies that this government is putting forward, is a policy which would require some $600 billion worth of spend on the budget and will result in more expensive energy. I just want everyone to be really clear, when Senator McKenzie talks about the costs to consumers and when she talks about the increase of costs passed through to consumers, that she is advocating a policy position which will, in fact, increase energy prices, which would result in a worse position for consumers.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why are you talking about us?

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

I heard Senator Ruston saying, 'Why do you want to talk about us?' The point is we are at a point where you are offering yourselves as the alternative government, and you should be held to account for the policies that you are putting forward. You should be held to account for the policies you are putting forward.

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator McKenzie?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on direct relevance. It was about the impact of the government's energy policy on food prices—nothing else.

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

That's correct. That was your question, Senator McKenzie, and there have been a lot of interjections from other opposition senators, which Minister Wong is entitled to address. So I would suggest, rather than me constantly having to call people to order, that, if you want your question answered, you stop your senators behind you from interjecting.

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

The reality is the cheapest form of new energy is renewable, and I know that fact—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is so wrong.

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

Senator Ruston is somehow more of an expert than the market! Isn't that amazing? She's more of an expert than the market and more of an expert than those from the energy markets who advise us! She's more of an expert than those who invest! The reality is you pursued a set of policies in government which meant no-one invested. We are cleaning this up, but you're proposing a more expensive policy for the Australian people.

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

Senator McKenzie, first supplementary?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Brisbane based MOCO Food Services chief executive Mike Peberdy has said:

Very simply, our customers are paying more, and they then therefore have to charge more to their customers.

…   …   …

We used to be a low-cost power country, now we're high. It seems like a crazy destruction of wealth across the Australian population.

Minister, why have Labor's energy policies increased MOCO Food Services' energy costs by 50 per cent when Labor promised before the last election cheap energy for every Australian household and business?

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

First, it's pretty galling, isn't it, to see someone who voted against energy bill relief for small businesses talking about energy prices. It's amazing that Senator McKenzie could actually come in here and feign support for small business when she voted against energy price relief for small businesses. Everyone can remember that Senator McKenzie is against energy bill relief for Australian businesses and Australian workers. Let's all remember that any time she asks a question about it. Let's also remember what Senator McKenzie is proposing, along with Mr Dutton. In order for him to try to get to the Lodge, he wants to put in place a nuclear plan which would require households to pay $1,200 extra. So they want more expensive power, and they voted against bill relief. That's the reality. (Time expired)

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

Senator McKenzie, second supplementary?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let's try to get an answer for Damon Venoutsos of New West Foods in WA. It's the largest independent food distributor in Western Australia. He says his electricity bill has doubled in the past three years. Minister, why has New West Foods' energy costs doubled when three years ago the Prime Minister told Australians that under an Albanese government energy would be cheaper?

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

First, this is the coalition who voted against energy price relief of $3 billion for millions of Australians. Second, let's remember their policies and why we are all living with the consequences. It is true that energy prices are far higher than we would like, and it is a consequence of what you did in government. You failed to invest; you failed to provide certainty.

The facts are problematic, aren't they, Senator McKenzie?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on direct relevance again. The minister is filibustering, rather than actually addressing the issue of my three questions on the government's policy impacts on energy prices and, therefore, food costs.

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

Thank you, Senator McKenzie. As I said when you rose on a point of order previously, if there are interjections, the minister is entitled to answer those interjections. There was so much disorder in the chamber, I have called a number of senators to order. In fact, at one point during the minister's answer, I called the whole chamber to order. I believe the minister is being relevant, but if you want your question answered, get your coalition senators not to interject.

It's not a debate. You are not in a debate with me, Senator McKenzie.

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

A point of order: I was simply going to say that Senator McKenzie was debating the point of order. There was no point of order.

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

I've ruled on it. I've indicated. Let's see if we can get your question answered, Senator McKenzie, but that will require silence.

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

It is the case that energy prices are higher than we would like, and that is as a consequence of those opposite failing to do what should have been done in government. Your only approach to the energy markets was to hide the massive price increase before an election. That was your response. How cynical! Now you cynically put to Australians that you care about energy prices when you vote against bill relief. I think we all understand what is occurring here.