Mr DICK (Oxley) (19:23): I want to enter the debate this evening to speak on this important bill, the Treasury
Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2019. I want to place on record my concerns as
a Queenslander and as a federal member who represents some disadvantaged areas about just how important it
is that we get energy policy right in this country. I want to start by talking about some of the amendments that
Labor has moved to the bill to ensure that, if it is to become policy, workers affected by divestiture are covered
under transfer of business provisions of the FWA. Whilst our strong concerns around privatisation from the first
version of the bill have been substantially addressed, we are proposing to strengthen this aspect of the bill to
ensure there is no risk of partial privatisation.
I also want to ensure that we fight to protect workers by ensuring their rights under the Fair Work Act are
safeguarded in the event of divestment. As I said, we know there have been some significant improvements in
the bill since it was originally floated, but better protections are still needed. Under the current bill, it's not clear
that the sale of an asset due to a divestment order will be considered by courts to constitute a connection between
the companies subject to divestment and the purchaser of the asset, leaving open the possibility that the FWA
transfer of business provisions will not apply. That is why these amendments are so important and that is why
we're moving them today, to ensure workers affected by divestment have all the protection they deserve under
the Fair Work Act. Labor's support for the bill in the House is conditional on these improvements that protect
basic worker rights and rule out partial privatisation.
I want to take a moment to highlight to the House when it comes to energy policy a good example or, as we hear,
an alternative approach that perhaps the government should look at. This is in my home state of Queensland
under the Queensland state Labor government led by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who continues to lead the
way when it comes to sensible and effective management of energy prices to ensure that residents—
Mr Thompson: No, there's no competition!
Mr DICK: I am hearing the member for Herbert interject. I will take that interjection tonight, Mr Deputy Speaker
McVeigh, because, as you know, as a former minister in the failed Newman government, one of the reasons
the LNP was so comprehensively rejected—I notice the member for Herbert is now silent—is that the party he
supports were annihilated in Queensland, and not for one election. I understand his commitment to privatisation.
Mr Thompson: That's rubbish!
Mr DICK: I understand by his interjections, which I will continue to take, that he supports the current
opposition's plan to privatise assets in Queensland. He's not denying that. I understand that because I have lived
that experience. I have seen, just as the member for Herbert has seen, his party was annihilated. You, Deputy
Speaker McVeigh, were a former minister in that failed government when you were rejected by the Queensland
population, not on one occasion but on two occasions, because of its ideological commitment to selling assets,
cutting public servants and then sacking people as well. Cut, sack, sell—that is in the LNP DNA in Queensland.
So, through his continual interjections, I realise the member for Herbert's fervent commitment to privatisation
of Queensland public assets. We on this side of the chamber and Queensland Labor members fight every single
day against what the LNP want in Queensland. So let me highlight for the member for Herbert's asset that the
Queensland state Labor government have achieved savings for Queenslanders because we own energy assets—
the generation, the poles and the wires. Now listening to the debate tonight, the member for Herbert would want
to sell those assets and his party would want to sell if they ever had the misfortune of returning to government
under a failed leadership experiment, a toxic experiment led by the LNP in Queensland.
Mr Thompson interjecting—

Mr DICK: That's right! I will take the member's interjection. It didn't last long. The largest swing in Australian
history to deliver the LNP state government was then the largest swing ever recorded against any government in
the Southern Hemisphere to be rejected by the Queensland people.
These funds have also been reinvested across the electricity supply chain from generation, transmission and
distribution to improve, maintain and deliver reliable power. More than $226.3 million was also invested into
capital projects at Stanwell and CS Energy to keep generation assets running safely, reliably and efficiently.
And another $210 million has been invested in poles and wires—the same poles and wires that the member for
Herbert's party wanted to sell—in Queensland.
Mr Thompson interjecting—
Mr DICK: Well, he's denying a fact in reality. And we know under his party, under the LNP in Queensland,
power prices went up 43 per cent as they planned to sell Ergon and Energex. That was their plan; we know that.
And their so-called regional competition policy would add $400 to every regional power bill or cost taxpayers
another $700 million. He may think that's sensible economic policy. He may think that's sensible for regional
Queensland. The hardworking members in his electorate will fight him every step of the way.
It's black and white when it comes to the difference between this side of the chamber and Labor governments.
On one hand you will continue to see this side of the chamber fight for fair and reliable energy prices. On that
side of the chamber we will see increased power prices and, sadly, privatisation.
Debate interrupted.