QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (15:24): It has been a big week in the Australian Senate—a big week delivering real change for young people who want to get their first home. That's what this Senate has done—not slogans, not Insta posts, but real tax reform, the hard road for Australians. The pathway in manufacturing is just the same—delivering real change for workers, real change for industry and tax cuts.
The people who stand in the way are just the same. We have the biggest pro-manufacturing package in Australian history, from the Albanese government. It's to build a future economy that makes Australia stronger and more resilient and includes our regions and outer suburbs meaningfully in our economy.
It is delivering for Australia 7½ thousand more manufacturing firms since 2020 to 2022. Manufacturing exports are up by 43 per cent. Manufacturing investment is up by 35 per cent—real substance not posturing.
I did watch with interest what the alternative position is on these questions, and that is self-indulgence and a race away from the centre. The Leader of the Nationals in the Senate, Senator McKenzie, as opposed to the Leader of the Nationals who's in the Senate, has spent her time not here in the Senate fighting for manufacturing jobs but in London at some bizarre offbeat— Senator Scarr: A point of order—there shouldn't be any reflection upon the absence of a senator from this place.
The PRESIDENT: That's correct, Senator Scarr, but I don't think Minister Ayres actually referred to whether a senator was present or not. He just named— Senator Nampijinpa Price: He did. The PRESIDENT: If he did, then he shouldn't have done that.
Minister Wong? Senator Wong: I'd ask you to consider that ruling, because I think, if the senator is making clear through media where they are, it is a legitimate point. You're right—there should not be no adverse inference in circumstances where that is not a public matter.
But, if the senator is making clear where they are publicly, surely that's a matter of legitimate debate in the Senate. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, it is a long-held convention in this place, regardless of what might happen outside of this place, that we don't make reference. Senator Ayres, I don't think we normally ask people to withdraw, but I would ask you to withdraw.
Senator AYRES: I'm happy to withdraw. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Canavan: Quick, ask ChatGPT.
The PRESIDENT: Senator Canavan, which part of 'Order!' did you not understand? Senator Ciccone, first supplementary?