QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:07): I do want to thank Senator Ghosh for that question. He is from the great state of Western Australia, which has had a gas reservation scheme in place since 2006. I do remember—I'm old enough to remember—the kind of wild campaign that was run against that gas reservation at that time.

It has been of immense benefit to Western Australia that that scheme has been in place, and this Albanese government will deliver that benefit for all of Australia. Earlier today, my friend the Minister for Resources, Madeleine King, introduced legislation for the domestic gas reservation. It is a landmark Labor reform that will ensure that Australia's resources are used to benefit Australia and Australians.

It will deliver affordable gas for Australians in their homes, for our businesses and for our households. It will help shield the Australian economy from global price shocks in uncertain times. It will see manufacturing firms invest in and create good, new blue-collar jobs.

In my work before I came into this parliament, I saw manufacturing firm after manufacturing firm in regional Australia close because of high gas prices. The best time to introduce this scheme would have been in the year 2000, as Australian industry was exposed to the international price of gas. The only time that we can deliver is now—for this parliament to deliver Australian gas for Australian industry, with downward pressure on prices, for blue-collar jobs and heavy industry, to make Australia stronger.