Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

Reduce our coal exports? In response to the honourable member’s question, I have to say that I found the remark quite extraordinary. It is not a policy that the government intends to pursue. The government does, however, recognise that we need to do what we can to improve the technology associated with the burning of coal in power stations and in industry. We support the introduction of clean coal technology. We have done that through research and development, direct financial support and encouragement to the sector. It is very important for a country like Australia, which is a major supplier of energy, to be responsible in playing our role in reducing global greenhouse emissions. But to stop exporting coal from Australia would in my view probably not reduce emissions, because the coal would simply come from other parts of the world that do not have such high standards. His call was not well founded and does not reflect government policy.

Ordered that the bill be reported to the House without amendment.

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