MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Senator HODGINS-MAY (Victoria) (16:30): 'Wrong way; go back,' is our message to the Albanese government, which seems hell-bent on slogging everyday Australians rather than going after corporate grifters like Woodside, BHP and Shell. The question that Australians are rightly asking is, 'Why?' Why aren't you representing us? Why won't the government stand up to a handful of greedy gas exporters and make them pay what they owe for our resources?

Why? We're talking about $17 billion per year that could go towards our public schools, free childhood education, public transport and renewable energy, that would permanently cut power bills and reduce our dependence on expensive fossil fuels. Instead of standing up to the gas industry, Labor is letting it infiltrate our early learning centres and our schools to brainwash our children with propaganda to buy their social licence.

A new report from Comms Declare identified more than 260 fossil fuel backed programs reaching schools, childcare centres, museums and cultural institutions in this country with virtually no oversight. If Labor had the courage to tax gas exports properly, our schools would never have to rely on fossil fuel funded teaching materials. Teachers deserve properly funded classrooms, and parents deserve confidence that when they send their child to school, they are going to get an evidence informed education, not brainwashing by big corporations like Woodside.

On the third anniversary of the Murphy report, why won't the government show courage there and stare down the gambling lobby? Lobby groups galore are calling the shots in this place. Political courage means standing up to powerful vested interests, not standing beside them.

That is the choice before this government. Australians deserve the courage that they were promised.