QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:10): Thank you, Senator Ghosh. Today the Albanese Labor government announced our plan for a domestic gas reservation. It is a landmark Labor reform.

It will deliver affordable gas for Australians and shield our economy from global shocks. It will reserve up to 20 per cent of gas export for Australians, putting downward pressure on prices and fixing gas supply shortages. These are reforms that would have been much simpler had they been delivered late last century or early this century.

That is the truth. But we are delivering them today. I grew up in regional Australia, and I worked in Australian manufacturing as a trade union representative for most of my working life, and I saw I saw what happened to Australian manufacturing when— Senator McKenzie interjecting— Senator Canavan interjecting— Senator AYRES: It may be a laughing matter.

There are a few undeclared clubs over there, I can tell you, particularly the ones that don't let women in that some of these characters are in. Now, we will legislate this scheme to make sure Australian gas is reserved for Australians, particularly, in my world of experience, for Australian industry. It's been welcomed by manufacturers.

BlueScope were on the record early today making it very clear that this will support future investment and A Future Made in Australia. Manufacturing Australia, which represents heavy industry in Australia and has been fighting for this reform for 15 years, are determined to deliver this reform and are looking to this parliament to see who votes for it. This is all about Australian gas for Australian industry, and it will deliver certainty, security and energy resilience for decades to come.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Ghosh, first supplementary.