QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:45): What this government will do is continue to modernise our electricity system in the interest of industry, in the interest of households and in the interest of future industry, because what we require in this country is additionality—more generation capacity and more transmission capability.

The coalition and One Nation campaign against energy generation capability around Australia, wandering around complaining, whether it's about koalas or that somehow offshore wind projects will be bad for whales. There are whales who go up and down the eastern Australian coast, dodging container ships and bulk carriers. Are they somehow going to door themselves on a stationary offshore wind tower?

It is too silly for words. It's too silly for words—sillier than a two-bob watch—and it's imported, weird ideology coming from overseas that's being used to try and stop progress right here in Australia. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Minister Ayres.

I was advised earlier that Senator Babet has given his question to One Nation, so I call Senator Whitten.