QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator CANAVAN (Queensland—Leader of the Nationals) (14:32): My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. In September 2023, the Prime Minister said that Whyalla had 'an extraordinarily optimistic future' producing green steel and that wind and solar would help create green hydrogen for advanced manufacturing. He went on to say that Labor's plans would position the steelworks to succeed 'for decades to come'.

Then on 20 March this year, again at the Whyalla Steelworks, the Prime Minister doubled down, saying the Labor government had saved the jobs of the Whyalla Steelworks and it was having record steelmaking. But on Monday, of course, it was announced that the blast furnace, very sadly, is being permanently closed. The only steelworks in Australia— Senator Ayres: You are a fraud.

You are a total fraud. The PRESIDENT: Senator Ayres, come to order! Senator Nampijinpa Price: You need to withdraw that.

Senator CANAVAN: I didn't hear him. I don't care. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Come to order!

I'm very sorry, Senator Canavan. Please resume your seat. I'll come back to you.

I did not need all of those interjections. I intended to ask Minister Ayres to withdraw, but I was being courteous to Senator Canavan and allowing him to finish his question. But the interjections, particularly on my left, meant I couldn't do that.

I apologise to Senator Canavan. Senator Ayres, you will withdraw those comments. Senator Ayres: I withdraw.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Canavan, please continue. Senator CANAVAN: Unlike Senator Ayres, I'm interested in this. It's the only steelworks in Australia that can produce hot rolled structural steel and rail from scratch.

Senator Ayres: You should go there. You've never been there. Senator CANAVAN: I've been there twice, thank you very much.

How can Labor claim its net zero policies are creating more secure manufacturing jobs when 500 workers will lose their jobs, our sovereign capacity is now at risk and we'll be even more reliant on imports?