QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:43): If you ever wanted a demonstration of the fact that, in every way that matters, the coalition are acting as a coalition with One Nation, I think it is by listening to what Senator Canavan has to say. It is impressive, the extent to which he parrots and mimics what Senator Hanson has to say.
Senator Canavan: Anything to avoid talking about energy. Senator WONG: No, I'm happy to talk about energy. There are a number of points I'd make.
The first is that there was actually quite a lot of discussion about energy in the budget and in the speech. Senator Canavan: No there wasn't, not in the speech. Senator WONG: There are five packages in the budget, and one of them deals with fuel security and the context of that, which the Treasurer spoke about, is that it is the largest shock to energy markets the world has seen.
An honourable senator interjecting— Senator WONG: That is energy. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Canavan?
Senator Canavan: President, on relevance, the question went to energy prices, not fuel security. I'd ask the minister to come back to the question. The PRESIDENT: You also referenced speeches and other things that have occurred, so I think the minister is being relevant and I will continue to listen carefully.
Senator WONG: I'll make a couple of points. The government is— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: The minister sat down because, again, there are interjections. Minister, please continue.
Senator WONG: The first point I'd make is that one of the five packages in the budget—and the context of the budget that the Treasurer spoke at length about was the state of global energy markets and the way that has impacted on Australia. That impacts upon Australia in a number of ways, including through higher energy prices. The consequences of these shocks to global markets are ricocheting throughout our economy, and the Treasurer was upfront about that.
That is what is driving, in great part, the challenges through supply chains of higher costs. It is contributing to inflation— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Canavan, first supplementary?