QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:48): The answer to that question—and it's a very good question, a characteristically good question from Senator Dolega. The reason we're not going to be investing taxpayers' money in coal-fired power stations, which is your approach, is that it would make electricity more expensive.

There's poor old 'dopey Dan' over there. His strategy— The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston? Senator Ruston: I think you probably know what I'm going to ask the minister to do—address those in the other place by their correct title.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Ayres, I will ask you to withdraw and remind you to address those in the other place by their correct titles. Senator AYRES: I withdraw. The member for Wannon's plan to sweat these coal assets, as he says, is only mildly less dopey than Senator Canavan's plan—which never eventuated—to build a magical, publicly funded coal-fired power station in Collinsville.

Not a fence was built. Not a dollar was installed. Not a hole was dug.

There wasn't even a photo opportunity in that giant boondoggle. The PRESIDENT: Just before I come to you, Senator McDonald—it is obvious there is a power outage here. It is also in the House, and we are working to try and fix it.

If there are any further updates, I'll let the chamber know.