Matthew Canavan

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister agreed steelmaking is a critical national capability and stated the government is working with stakeholders to ensure Whyalla's future. She attributed the closure to years of underinvestment and safety failures by the owner, GFG Alliance, rather than government policy. She cited the Tomago Aluminium facility as an example where renewables and gas, not coal, were required to keep the facility open.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister cited Commonwealth Bank and Reserve Bank data showing negative equity had dropped to 0.5 per cent, less than half the rate under the previous government. She argued that the opposition was talking down the market and failing to support young Australians entering the housing market. She highlighted government initiatives like the five per cent deposit scheme and a fairer tax system to support homeownership. She criticized the coalition for not wanting more young people in the housing market.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister acknowledged Vietnam Veterans' Day and stated that the Prime Minister regularly engages with veteran groups. She clarified that the $5,000 threshold is not a hard limit if there is a clinical need, ensuring veterans continue to receive necessary care. She noted that the Prime Minister's office has been briefed on the issues raised by the veteran delegation. The minister did not confirm whether the cap would be scrapped, stating only that the government's position would be considered carefully.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister reminded the senator that the coalition had campaigned on higher taxes in the previous election. She stated that annual nominal wages had grown above three per cent for 15 consecutive quarters. She highlighted the government's focus on housing affordability through the Housing Australia plan, which aims to build more homes and help first-home buyers. She argued that the government's policies are designed to make home ownership more accessible, particularly for young Australians, and rejected the claim that taxes were damaging confidence.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister declined to answer, stating the question was better directed to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister said property values rose by 400 per cent from 2000 and by 58 per cent from 2020, making ownership hard for many. She pointed out that auction clearance rates fell prior to the budget and that Treasury projections expected prices to keep rising, though roughly two per cent less than they would have without the reforms. She stressed the aim was to create fair conditions for first home buyers. On the five per cent deposit scheme, she quoted data indicating about 260,000 first home buyers had entered the market, claiming the opposition opposed assisting young Australians to own homes.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister asserted that the government was delivering more funding to public schools and hospitals than any previous administration, including 137 urgent care clinics. She stated that the government had provided significant support to states through existing arrangements. Regarding the specific issue of stamp duty impacts on small businesses restructuring, she indicated that transitional issues would be addressed through the budget process and that the government had flagged the capacity for restructuring in budget papers.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister clarified that the changes targeted specific borrowing arrangements, citing risks identified by the Murray inquiry and Council of Financial Regulators. She stated that existing arrangements would be protected and that the package included tax cuts for all taxpayers. She accused the opposition of running baseless scare campaigns and voting against tax cuts.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the budget addressed energy security in the context of the largest global energy market shock in history. She argued that the previous government had allowed coal-fired power stations to exit the system without a plan for replacement supply, causing price and supply issues. The minister claimed that 24 of 28 ageing coal plants announced closures while the Coalition was in government. She defended the government's energy rebates and argued that the opposition's ideological position on energy sources had contributed to the current crisis.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister announced that fines for deceptive practices and anti-competitive agreements would be doubled to a maximum of $100 million per offence. He stated that the ACCC was ramping up fuel monitoring with weekly reports focusing on unusual price spikes and was working with industry to secure authorisation to coordinate supply and remove bottlenecks. Regarding the number of ACCC investigations and the IEA request, the minister declined to provide specific details at that stage, stating he would provide more information later.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister argued that the previous government's policy uncertainty had led to an investment strike, resulting in the closure of four out of six refineries and 24 out of 28 coal-fired power stations. She stated that the current government held more fuel reserves than at any point over the preceding 15 years. She characterized the opposition's position as opposing climate action and criticized the National Party for leading the coalition on energy policy.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that driving decarbonisation and scaling up domestic manufacturing in renewable technologies was necessary for economic activity and jobs. She argued that leveraging private sector investment was essential for Australia to participate in global supply chains in a transitioning economy. Regarding electric vehicles, she noted that Australia no longer manufactures cars, a situation resulting from previous government policies, and that the current approach was about economic logic rather than ideology.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister described the emissions data as a positive outcome, noting a 2.2 per cent decrease and that emissions were 29 per cent below 2005 levels. He attributed reductions to increased renewable energy generation and efforts across agriculture and industry. He dismissed the opposition's criticism as negative politics and reaffirmed the government's commitment to modernising the electricity system and supporting manufacturing.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister argued that the government's plan was the cheapest way to modernise the electricity system and contrasted it with the opposition's past policy failures. He cited the CEO of the Australian Energy Council, who stated that a highly renewable system supported by gas and storage would deliver the lowest cost outcome and that keeping coal open longer would likely increase costs. He asserted that the opposition's approach was more extreme and likely to lead to disinvestment and higher bills, while the government's plan was cheaper, more responsible, and more reliable.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister criticized the previous government's record on industrial energy prices. He stated that Australians were major adopters of rooftop solar and batteries, which saved households money. He did not provide specific figures on turbine or panel installations or land use impacts, instead focusing on the benefits of distributed energy resources and criticizing the opposition's lack of policy clarity.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister denied the characterization, stating that the facility could not secure power contracts of any type. He affirmed the government's commitment to protecting jobs and maintaining cheap electricity. He highlighted support for other smelters.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister confirmed that consultations regarding the potential closure of the Tomago facility in 2028 had begun with around 1,400 workers. He stated that the government is engaged in discussions with New South Wales authorities, facility owners, and unions. He noted that Rio Tinto, a part-owner, is working through power-purchasing agreements across its facilities, with the Gladstone facility successfully underwriting solar and wind projects. Regarding the specific energy supply issue, he stated that Rio and owners have indicated there is neither coal-fired nor renewable electricity available in the market that meets their needs, attributing the situation to competition for green energy and the need for policy certainty.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister criticized the previous government's inaction, which left the system with reduced capacity. He stated the current government had approved 99 projects to deliver energy. He noted the Climate Change Authority, led by Mr Kean, was assisting with assessments. He dismissed concerns about community opposition as misinformation driven by offshore extremist politics, asserting that farmers should be consulted but not obstructed by political campaigns.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister stated that industry requires policy certainty and affordable energy, which the government is addressing through market reviews. He argued that the opposition's previous policies led to capital flight and higher gas prices, whereas the current government is building electricity generation capacity. He did not provide a specific date for bill reductions, stating that prices would fall when supply increases, and attributed current challenges to opposition campaigns against industry.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister acknowledged the impact of Glencore's decisions on Mount Isa jobs and stated that clear action and coordination with the Queensland government are imperative. He did not commit to specific federal intervention or price reductions, instead attributing current energy issues to a decade of previous government mismanagement and policy uncertainty. He criticised the questioner for focusing on energy prices while ignoring the broader context of industrial recovery.

Answer from Matthew Canavan

The minister stated that the investment was made through Export Finance Australia's commercial account, meaning there was no cost or exposure to Australian taxpayers. He argued that EFA supports infrastructure development in the region that benefits Australia by strengthening partnerships and granting access to new markets. He rejected the characterization of the question as xenophobic and emphasized that EFA helps Australian businesses trade and invest overseas.