Australian news and politics live: Albanese dodges nature positive questions as he doubles down on renewables

Anthony Albanese turned again to energy, addressing a question about predictions on gas shortages along the east coast in a few years.

“We need more supply, it needs to be done in a sustainable way,” he said.

“On gas, on the day of the election, in 2022, gas was $34, today it’s $13. We have mandated the gas code of conduct. We changed the Domestic Gas Security to ensure that we can intervene to ensure supply domestically,” he added.

WA Premier Roger Cook also jumped in.

“I can speak for Western Australia, where I say that we understand and know that gas will provide a very important fuel as part of the clean energy transition,” he said.

“That’s why we’ve continued to make sure we support our oil and gas industry, not only to reap the rewards of providing gas to their overseas customers, but also to make sure we’ve got energy security in Western Australia,” added Mr Cook.

“And a hallmark of successive Labor governments in Western Australia is to implement a domestic gas reserve, to ensure that local industry and local residents or households have access to affordable, reliable gas.”

Mr Albanese was asked what he would say to voters who believe Labor’s offering lacks ambiton.

The Prime Minister said Labor have - during a difficult time globally these last three years - tackled inflation without a rise in unemployment while also providing cost-of-living relief.

He went on to list policy milestones in education, childcare, and aged care.

“I don’t pretend to be a revolutionary. I’m a reformist - putting in place reforms and making a difference for Australians,” he said.

Mr Albanese was asked about revelations that Donald Trump’s campaign chief, Chris LaCivita, had been in Australia advising the Liberal party.

Peter Dutton has flatly denied he had any contact with him.

“How does it strike the PM that the Liberal Party may have been getting advice from a Trump mastermind, and what role more broadly has the US president played in his campaign?” the PM was asked.

Mr Albanese said he’s been focused on Australia, but he’s been concerned about some of the positions put out during the campaign.

“The campaign of the Liberal Party has become more right-wing under Peter Dutton, that’s the truth of the matter. Peter Dutton has had different positions, sought to raise culture war issues, and under the Liberal Party has lost (moderates),” he said.

“Will the last moderate in the Liberal Party turn the lights off? That is what’s happening.”

He went on to lament the loss of big-name Liberal moderates.

Anthony Albanese said Labor is taking “nothing for granted” when asked about the prospect of minority government after Saturday’s poll.

“What I’m about is maximising our position,” he said.

“No Prime Minister has been re-elected in this country having served a full term since 2004 and we have a mountain to climb,” he says, conceding it will be difficult to be re-elected.

“My job is to go out there, put forward the policies that we have. The Australian people will vote, and we’ll see what happens on Saturday.

“But I think we’ve run a positive campaign. We’ve run a clear campaign,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Albanese has brushed off a question about homophobic comments made by Bennelong MP Jerome Laxale’s father.

The comments were reported in the Nine Newspapers on Thursday.

The PM said he doesn’t “talk about people’s family”.

“Jerome Laxale is the candidate, and he’s a great candidate for Bennelong,” he said.

Pressed again by the reporter if he condemns the comments, Mr Albanese said it is “beneath” the journalist to ask the question in the first place.

“People’s families should be kept out of it,” he said.

“It’s beneath you to ask whether I support homophobic comments, because of course I don’t.

“Frankly, it’s offensive you’re even suggesting it,” the PM says.

He went on to say he’s more concerned about members of the Exclusive Brethren handing out fliers for the Liberal Party.

The PM was asked whether Australians would be thankful for his claim of being slightly better off than under the Coalition.

“It has been a difficult time for governments around the world,” Mr Dutton said.

“We’ve had the biggest global inflation issue since the 1980s and the biggest energy crisis since the 1970s, we’ve had to deal with that.”

Labor has also had to deal with the economy in the wake of the COVID pandemic and its impact on supply chains, the PM added.

He argued they have still been able to raise wages for aged care workers by 20 per cent, and raise the minimum wage three times.

“We know that people have been doing it tough what that’s why we took the difficult decision” to change the legislation on tax cuts, he added.

With all the conversations about the Voice to Parliament in the last few days, the PM was asked what happens to truth-telling and treaty if he gets a second term.

He said the focus is on “practical reconciliation”, pointing back to a speech he gave at the Garma Festival last year after the referendum failed.

“It’s about economic empowerment, it’s about practical ways to close the gap. That is what I’m focused on,” he said.

The PM was asked about the catastrophic blackout in Spain and Portugal this week, which has raised questions about the risks of over-relying on renewable energy in the grid.

He defended Labor’s plans for Australia’s future energy mix, which will introduce 82 per cent renewables within five years, as the most efficient and cheapest way to hit net-zero targets.

“Our plan is for renewables, backed by gas, backed by batteries and backed by hydro,” he said, adding that the Government has not shut any fossil fuel projects.

He then turned to the Coalition’s record on energy, arguing that “24 out of 28 coal fired power stations announced their closure under the former Government, and that the former Government did bugger all,” he said.

He accuses the Coalition of being “all about rhetoric” because they couldn’t land a policy.

Labor’s nature positive agenda has dodged the Federal Government in WA this term, and on Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked about what a new version would look like, and whether it will be compliant.

The PM said it will be in accordance with the Samuels Review.

“You will see the legislation when it is done. What we will do is not pre-empt processes of consultation,” he said.

“We engage with industry... we will treat people with respect, engage constructively with the WA Government and other state governments as well, and we will produce an outcome that is very positive.”

The Prime Minister took questions in the seat of Tangney, and it was put to him that this election has been “characterised by mistruths and accusations of lying all around”.

“Is that why he didn’t pursue the truth in political advertising legislation as vigorously as he could have? And would he like to have another crack at it?” a journalist asked.

“I would,” he said.

“We tried to do a range of legislation, which we didn’t have support for them from the Coalition.”