QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:46): The member for Ryan suggests, from some of the campaign which has been had publicly, that somehow gas companies or other companies in the resources sector don't pay tax, that there's no company tax or resource tax and that the PRRT does not exist and will not grow in the future. It also ignores the work that we've done in two areas—the work that we've done on the gas reservation of 20 per cent of exports, which is very important.

In Western Australia, the former WA Labor government brought in a gas reservation that has served the people of WA well. But, on the east coast, that has not happened. That has been inadequate from governments of all persuasions in dealing with this challenge.

We're dealing with it. We're getting it done, and we're consulting with industries to make sure it happens. The unspoken suggestion from some, as part of this campaign, is that we should just tear up contracts that are made with our trading partners.

If the member says no, that's not the case, then I welcome the fact that they are saying that, but in the public campaign that's certainly not a part of it. The truth is that, in recent times, one of the things that we have been able to rely upon is that we are a reliable trading partner. So, in spite of the fact that some said I shouldn't go to Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia and that we shouldn't engage with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea to make sure that our supplies of diesel and petrol and aviation fuel were here, we have in part been able to achieve the outstanding outcomes that we have through Export Finance Australia and through the work with our trading partners, because we are a reliable trading partner, and we do honour contracts and will continue to do that.