Senate

Answer from Bridget McKenzie

The minister rejected the premise, attributing current issues to a decade of policy delay under the previous government which failed to manage the transition from coal-fired power. She highlighted new investments in renewable energy and support measures for households, including energy bill rebates, Medicare, childcare, and housing assistance. She stated that the government was increasing grid capacity and supporting the transition to cheaper renewable energy sources.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister detailed the expansion of bulk-billing incentives for all Australians and the listing of new contraceptives on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, including NuvaRing, Yaz, Yasmin, and Slinda. She noted that these listings reduced annual costs significantly, with NuvaRing dropping from over $270 to $31.60 per script. She also mentioned the new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments, which had been accessed by over 20,000 women since 1 July.

Answer from Malarndirri McCarthy

The minister stated that the government was not introducing mandates but was supporting the introduction of methane-reducing additives. She declined to answer specific questions about labeling rights and health risks, stating she had answered the questions and would take further examples on notice.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister defended the reforms as delivering real environmental gains, including national environmental standards and requirements to mitigate harm. He stated that the laws provided ways to fast-track projects, particularly housing and renewables, while maintaining strong environmental protections. He refused to rule out fast-tracking fossil fuels, arguing that both the Greens and Coalition should support the reforms.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister reported that emissions were 28 per cent below 2005 levels and wholesale electricity prices had fallen 27 per cent. He highlighted investments including $5 billion in the Net Zero Fund, $2 billion allocated to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and $1.1 billion directed toward low-carbon liquid fuels. He argued that these policies were driving investment and creating jobs in blue-collar regions.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister stated that the department was actively developing a First Nations engagement standard but could not create new national environmental standards until the bill was passed. He emphasized that passing the bill was necessary to grant the minister power to make such standards. He affirmed the government's commitment to protecting sacred sites and noted support from representative traditional owner groups in Murujuga.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister rejected the premise that the scheme made housing less affordable, stating that lending rules and serviceability requirements remained unchanged. She argued that Treasury guidance suggested the effect on property values would be small. She highlighted that the deposit scheme was part of a broader strategy including increasing housing supply, training tradespeople, and kickstarting construction, noting that building approvals and commencements had risen.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister stated he did not have the detailed statistics available and would provide the information on notice. Regarding the supplementary questions on specific groups and policy bias, he reiterated that he would return with facts. He challenged the premise of the question, asserting that Australia maintained a non-discriminatory immigration policy supported by previous governments, including the Liberal Party, and confirmed this approach would continue under Labor.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister suggested that the Greens should support the reforms rather than blocking them, as they had done in the previous term. He argued that the legislation introduced stronger environmental standards than currently existed, contrary to the Greens' claims. He stated that the laws established national environmental standards for the first time, increased penalties for breaches, required proponents to mitigate impacts before offsetting, and mandated net gains for environmental offsets. He characterized the Greens' opposition as political grandstanding rather than a focus on outcomes.

Answer from Malarndirri McCarthy

The minister noted that states and territories determine their own road laws and speed limits. She highlighted the government's investment in safer roads and fairer funding for regional communities. Regarding the specific comments by Minister McBain, she stated she would seek further advice from the minister. She reiterated the government's commitment to investing in regional roads and indicated she would get back to the senator with more information.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister stated the government remained committed to implementing Graeme Samuel's recommendation to apply national environmental standards to regional forestry agreements. He emphasized that passing these reforms was the priority. In response to the claim that forests were not mentioned, he pointed out that he had just stated the commitment to applying standards to forests, noting he had made similar statements in Senate estimates and other forums.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister argued that the current parliament had issued more OPDs than all previous parliaments combined, making the volume unmanageable for any government. She stated that the government had complied with the most OPDs in history. Regarding the cabinet confidentiality claims, she dismissed allegations of improper use as folklore and asserted that, in her experience as a cabinet minister, the claims made by the government were legitimate.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister attributed the previous decline in bulk-billing to the Coalition's freeze on rebates. She stated that the government was making historic investments to repair Medicare and noted that over a thousand practices had indicated interest in becoming fully bulk-billing. She reiterated the government's intention to increase bulk-billing rates to fulfill the promise of universal healthcare, framing the current measures as a response to damage done by the previous government.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister noted that the Greens had previously supported ministerial decision-making powers over an independent EPA. He stated that various groups had different views on the legislation, but the government would pass the laws with either the Greens or the Coalition. He countered the claim that no groups supported the bill by citing a press release from the Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace, and WWF-Australia welcoming the new enforcement powers and increased penalties.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister suggested the senator's question was politically motivated given his past support for renewable projects. He stated that the question related to matters prior to his tenure and he could not shed light on it. He denied that the government was reckless or hiding numbers. When asked for specific figures, he stated he did not have them.