Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Education and Training) (14:45): I thank Senator Brockman for his question because Senator Brockman, I know, appreciates the importance of reliability and affordability in our energy markets, as do all of my colleagues on this side of the chamber. Indeed, households and businesses around Australia also know that affordability and reliability are essential. Affordability and reliability are widely appreciated. They don't seem to be appreciated by those opposite, so I was surprised to find that some others who do recognise the importance of affordability and reliability come from none other than the union movement. I was looking through various statements and submissions recently. In January this year, the Victorian secretary of the Australian Workers' Union said: You cannot run heavy industry without reliable, plentiful and cheap electricity. … … … It's just a shame that renewables aren't quite there yet. Senator Cameron: And you get that from renewables. Senator BIRMINGHAM: No, you will want to hear this, Senator Cameron: … the rush away from coal and gas-fired electricity power stations to renewables is a little unseemly in its haste because we are potentially crucifying hundreds of thousands of manufacturing workers. It is not just the AWU. At the risk of inflaming my colleague Senator Cash, the CFMEU has had something similar to say. In its submission to a Senate inquiry in November last year, it said: The decline and closure of base-load coal power in South Australia has contributed to higher average power prices in that State together with much uncertainty over future pricing … and increased vulnerability of supply … We understand the importance of affordability and reliability. Households understand the importance of affordability and reliability. Businesses understand the importance of affordability and reliability. Even trade unions, it seems, understand the importance of affordability and reliability. It's just those opposite who want to pretend you can live in some nirvana where you don't have to worry about putting policies in place to deliver affordability and reliability. The PRESIDENT: Senator Brockman, a supplementary question.