John Murphy (Lowe, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in support of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills. Mr Deputy Speaker Adams, as you know, the Rudd government is committed to reducing Australia’s carbon emissions. These bills outline the government’s proposed measures to fulfil this commitment. The Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, has warned that these bills are crucial to our nation’s economic and environmental future. Respected economists such as Professor Garnaut also warn that continued inaction will be far more costly in the future if we do not take action today. In fact, based on treasury modelling, future generations will pay 15 per cent more for inaction compared with those nations who take action now. Treasury modelling also suggests that under this scheme output will increase, real wages and jobs will increase, and GNP and GDP will also increase. It is imperative that these bills be passed without further delay, not only to protect our beautiful environment but to ensure a prosperous, sustainable economy too.

As you know, Mr Deputy Speaker, the CPRS will measure the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions of liable entities and put a price on those emissions. The CPRS includes transitional assistance measures to ensure a responsible approach, supporting businesses, jobs, community organisations and households. The CPRS and our renewable energy target will encourage and support businesses and jobs through the investment in future industries such as renewable energy. This is a very good thing. Thousands of new low-polluting jobs will be created through new technologies like clean coal, geothermal energy and increased investment in renewable energy such as solar, wind and tidal power. I repeat: this is a good initiative.

Households will also be assisted through the household assistance package, to help our citizens meet or offset the increase in energy costs. The devastating effects of extreme weather conditions, increasing temperatures, rising sea levels and more droughts will be far more damaging to our economy in the long term if we do not join in a willing effort to mitigate the effects of climate change now.

I take this opportunity to applaud the member for Throsby, who led the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts inquiry and its report: Managing our coastal zone in a changing climate: the time to act is now. This is a fantastic report. It really reveals the seriousness of the issue that we are debating here in this House tonight. If you do not believe me in relation to this report: I have never seen such a response in the media as in yesterday’s paper. Look at page 1 of the Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Make evacuation plans’. Full marks to the environmental editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, Marion Wilkinson, for putting this story on page 1. If you have a look here on page 7 there are a number of articles which deal with the serious issues associated with climate change. And then in the Age, page 1 again—

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