QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Ms PENFOLD (Lyne) (14:49): My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Innovation. Jamestrong, Taree's second-largest private-sector employer, produces aluminium cans from ingots produced by the Tomago aluminium smelter. Jamestrong has seen its own energy prices surge by 65 per cent over the last four years.
The potential closure of Tomago has put at risk not only the future of thousands of Hunter jobs but also the investment by Jamestrong in Taree. Will the minister admit that Labor's energy policy is killing local jobs and local manufacturing in the Hunter and in communities like Taree? Mr Burke: We dealt with this yesterday, where the actual question at the end was in a different portfolio area to where the question was directed.
The SPEAKER: I'll hear from the Manager of Opposition Business. Mr Hawke: Yesterday there was some confusion about some of the ministers answering questions. This is directly industry policy.
Every industry in Australia is talking about energy prices—every single industrial operation. We are asking the industry representative about energy costs for industries shutting down in Australia. A government member interjecting— Mr Hawke: Yes, we are asking that.
It's valid. You're the government; you can direct the question where you want. The SPEAKER: The manager has made his point; I appreciate that.
He is correct. This is a slightly different scenario, where the minister representing the minister for industry is being asked about the minister for energy's policy in relation to his portfolio, so that's totally okay. Mr Hawke interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order!
I know you're trying to help. You're doing your best. I'm just trying to help you as well.
Help me help you. What we're going to do is call the minister. He can answer the question.
The member for Lyne has quite rightly asked him a question about her electorate and the impact. He can deal with that. If he wishes to, under the Practice, he can then defer to the other minister to add, to assist the member's question.
The Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Innovation now has the call, and he may choose to allocate the remainder of the question to another minister responsible.