John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Can I just go back to something I said in answer to the first question asked of me. Sir Nicholas Stern is reported in the Sydney Morning Herald today as advocating a reduction of 30 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020. That would have a devastating effect on the Australian economy. It would cost thousands of jobs in the Australian coal industry. It would put back technological progress towards clean coal technology because of its impact on the operation of the Australian economy. Nobody argues or contests the challenge of climate change but what I do argue and contest is the kind of knee-jerk reaction advocated by the member for Lilley.

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