Topics: Gas trigger, Indigenous Voice to Parliament

E&OE

QUESTION:

Is it time for the Government to be pulling the gas trigger?

ANGUS TAYLOR:

Look, it's time for the Government to work with the gas producers to get more supply in and one of the threats that's there that we established is the ADGSM, the gas trigger. So, from the moment they got into Government, the point I made to them, which was very clear, get more supply into the domestic network, don't demonise the gas producers, you need them to work with you to get a solution and the ADGSM is a threat that could be used to make sure that happens. Now, they haven't done it. It's time to get on do it.

QUESTION:

Is it a trigger that should be based on supply? Or should it be based on price?

ANGUS TAYLOR:

Look, the trigger is there to make sure you get more supply into the market. That's the point and that's what we need to see more supply in the domestic network. I've made this point for a long time now. It worked for us, it was very successful but you can't demonise gas producers if you're asking them to put more supply into the market. You've got to work with them to get more supply out as they put more supply into our domestic network. It works. We've seen it work. It worked for us. Get on with it.

QUESTION:

Your government was pushing a gas-led recovery. Is what's happening now a sign that that recovery has failed?

ANGUS TAYLOR:

No. The point is that you need to get more gas into the domestic network and that's exactly what we've been saying to the Government they need to do. But you can't do that whilst you're demonising the gas producers. You know, Chris Bowen called the focus on gas B.S. You know, this is demonisation of the gas industry. We don't need that. What we need is the Government working with the gas industry to get more supply into the network. The ADGSM is a threat that is there intentionally. We put it in place to be used if necessary. But the best way forward is get more supply out and more supply into our domestic network.

QUESTION:

Do you regret not establishing a mechanism that would have seen a reserve on the east coast like WA has?

ANGUS TAYLOR:

We have a mechanism – the ADGSM and it worked for us. But it works when you work with the industry and make very clear to the industry that you're prepared to act in using the ADGSM if necessary. But at the same time, you're prepared to work with them to get more supply into the network. That's what we've asked for, for a long time and I'll tell you, the simple point about this is it worked. We got it to work, we got gas prices down very substantially on the back of that and that supported significant reductions in electricity prices. It's time for the Labor Government to look at what worked for us and get on with it.

QUESTION:

Is the threat enough? Is the threat of using the trigger enough and will that prevent the shortfall we'll see next year?

ANGUS TAYLOR:

It was enough to achieve very significant reductions in gas prices when we were in Government and was very effective. But you cannot demonise the industry and then ask them to support your industry in Australia and to support lower electricity prices. They are crucial to delivering this. Work with them. Don't demonise them. Don't call the gas industry BS.

QUESTION:

Just on Garma. Has the Coalition settled on a position on the Voiced to Parliament and why did Opposition Leader Peter Dutton not attend?

ANGUS TAYLOR:

Well, our position is very clear. We do want to see closure of the gap. We do want to see more opportunities for Indigenous Australians. We do want to see them being able to realise their aspirations. Now the proposed constitutional changes is lacking any detail, we want to see that detail. That's crucial. And we do want to see that detail as soon as possible.

QUESTION:

Do you think there will be members of your own side of politics that could sort of spearhead a no campaign if it goes to a referendum?

ANGUS TAYLOR:

No, look, we're a long way from that yet. What we want to see is the detail. I think it's a very reasonable thing to ask for. We share the view that we want to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. We do want to see the gap closed. This is enormously important work. But we also want to see the detail of the proposed changes that Labor's putting forward.

QUESTION:

Garma was a significant event and the Prime Minister was there, Caroline Kennedy, the ambassador was there. So why wasn't Peter Dutton there? Was that a decision that Shadow Cabinet endorsed?

ANGUS TAYLOR:

Well, look, it's an important festival. But the broader issue here is very clear. We want to see to gap closed and Jacinta Price made this very clear in her very strong speech last week. The goal here has to be closure of the gap. That's what counts. And we do want to see that on the constitutional changes and we want to see the detail and it's a very reasonable request.

QUESTION:

Marcia Langton’s point is that there's a document of hundreds of pages explaining the detail behind the plan.

ANGUS TAYLOR:

Yeah, what we want to see is what the Government is proposing. What is the Government proposing to put forward in detail? There's lots of questions to be answered. Jacinta Price has raised a number of those questions. That's what we want to see. All good? Thank you.