Senate

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister corrected the record, stating she had mistakenly referred to the Howard government instead of the Morrison government. She clarified that the Morrison government was the highest-spending, while the Howard government was the highest-taxing. She maintained that the current administration manages the budget responsibly by containing spending growth and finding savings to pay down inherited debt, despite pressures from defence, health, and aged care sectors.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister highlighted record low unemployment, 1.2 million jobs created, and the smallest gender pay gap. She cited a landmark agreement in South Australia to release 17,000 new dwellings, with 7,000 for first-home buyers, and $2 billion in additional public hospital funding. She noted that over 200,000 cheaper home batteries had been installed since 1 July, with South Australia leading in per capita installations. The minister attributed delays in delivery to opposition from the Liberals, Nationals, and One Nation.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister disagreed with the criticism, stating that the reform was necessary because many properties were not fit for purpose and were costly to maintain. She confirmed that all personnel, including reservists, would be transitioned to alternative sites. The minister assured that Tasmania would retain a strong defence presence, including the consolidation of training depots in Burnie and Devonport into a new multiuser depot, building on investments in the Launceston cadet depot and Anglesea Barracks.

Answer from Don Farrell

The minister initially stated he could not answer directly as he was not the responsible minister and would consult with the Attorney-General. In response to the supplementary question regarding confidence, the minister answered affirmatively. He rejected the proposition that Brereton should be removed, stating that the government had appointed him and he continued to do his work, having clarified he was not involved in other activities.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister argued that the Greens' approach would wreck international climate negotiations and harm Australian industry. He stated that 52 per cent of Australia's oceans are already protected and the government is working towards protecting 30 per cent highly. He maintained that gas exports are necessary for lower emissions and sustainable industry, and that releasing new acreage helps address energy needs. The minister highlighted government investments in transforming the electricity system and supporting industries to move to lower-cost electricity.

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 Katy Gallagher

The minister stated she did not have the budget papers with her but confirmed the costs were accounted for in contingent liabilities and the statement of risks. She offered to provide the figures later, noting that some information was commercially sensitive. She highlighted that 23 agreements had been executed, representing seven gigawatts of capacity, with negotiations ongoing for 33 projects, aiming to deliver a minimum of 40 gigawatts of fresh renewable and clean dispatchable power by 2030.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister acknowledged the longstanding issues in the aged care system and stated the government was rebuilding it from the ground up. She confirmed that urgent cases were being prioritised and that wait times were expected to decrease. She attributed the crisis to neglect during the previous government's tenure and stated that the current administration was working swiftly to address the backlog through new legislation, resourcing, and workforce support.