ANGUS TAYLOR: Look, we understand that there is some in the energy lobby in particular, and some of the energy companies that don’t love this legislation, but we are doing it because it is the right thing for middle Australia, for the quiet Australians, for those that deserve a fair deal on energy. Reliability and affordability – that is what this is all about. This legislation will ensure that the behaviour that has occurred in the past that the ACCC has described as unacceptable and unsustainable can’t reoccur. That’s the purpose. It is important that it happens. We will work closely with the energy companies in the coming months and years to make sure we get the right outcomes for middle Australia.

JOURNALIST: The BCA doesn’t like it. Is the BCA wrong to say that this will do nothing to lower power prices?

ANGUS TAYLOR: It will support our policies in driving affordable and reliable power. The reason is simple – there has been unacceptable and unsustainable behaviour in the past. The ACCC has pointed this out. We need to make sure that supply that is crucial to keep the prices down and keeping the lights on stays in the market. We need to make sure that cost-savings are passed on to consumers. We need to make sure that new competition is not pushed out. So, we will continue to focus on this and that is because it is crucial for middle Australia.

JOURNALIST: Is there room in the current competition laws for more to be done, given that that is what the ACCC was broadly calling for in its report?

ANGUS TAYLOR: Well there is a great deal that we are doing. I mean, we are implementing a large suite recommendations that were made by the ACCC in a whole series of different ways.

JOURNALIST: Centre Alliance is calling for the divestiture powers to be rolled out economy wide. Is that feasible? Is it possible? Would you look at it?

ANGUS TAYLOR: We will continue to talk with our colleagues in the Parliament, with the crossbenchers and others in the House of Reps and the Senate. But look, the focus here is on electricity. We need to make sure that Australian electricity consumers get a fair deal.

JOURNALIST: Is that the demand that they’re making in exchange for their support, or will they back it in, or just try and move this as an amendment?

ANGUS TAYLOR: As I say, we’ll continue to talk to our crossbench colleagues and colleagues right across the Parliament. But most importantly here, this is a focus on a fair deal for electricity in a sector where we have seen behaviour in the past which was unacceptable.

JOURNALIST: Labor says the balanced budget wouldn’t be achieved if the Government had properly funded the NDIS. What do you have to say to that?

ANGUS TAYLOR: I will leave comments on the budget to the Treasurer. I know he’s going to make comments later on today. The NDIS is properly funded. It is a demand driven program. It has absolutely properly funded - one hundred thousand people who are getting support for the first time, and that is very very important for disabled Australians.

JOURNALIST: So no hints whether it is going to be surplus?

ANGUS TAYLOR: That’s one for the Treasurer.