Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I look forward to the Leader of the Opposition's explanation as to why he has said in the past that he is in favour of putting a price on carbon, why he has said in the past that he is 'a bit of a weathervane' when it comes to this—a man of no core convictions, no promises, nothing that can be believed. Certainly one thing that can never be believed is his assertion that he will repeal this price on carbon. The Leader of the Opposition will not do that.

To the Leader of the Opposition's question, as I have said many times before in this parliament and beyond, as I have spoken to members of the community I have talked to them about how the science is real. I accept the science. Frequently, the Leader of the Opposition does not. We need to cut carbon pollution by at least five per cent by 2020. I believe in doing that; some days the Leader of the Opposition does not. I believe we should accept the advice of economists that the most cost-effective way of doing that is to put a price on carbon. The Leader of the Opposition never accepts advice from economists; instead, he personally criticises them.

I believe that as we price carbon and reduce carbon pollution we should do everything we can to provide benefits to pensioners, people raising children and workers deserving of tax cuts—and we will. I believe that we should do everything we can to support the steel industry—and we will. And tomorrow's vote will in part be about who stands alongside steelworkers and who is prepared to desert them. That will be what tomorrow's vote is about as well.

As the Leader of the Opposition well knows, in the last election campaign I spoke to the Australian people about the science being real and I spoke to the Australian people about the need to have an emissions trading scheme. We have used the opportunity of this parliament, and this parliament will deliver this major reform which will enable us to seize a clean energy future. Meanwhile, I anticipate the Leader of the Opposition, the man who used to be in favour of pricing carbon, the man who used to talk favourably about putting a tax on carbon, the man who has said he is nothing but a weathervane when it comes to this huge issue for the nation's future, will start twisting and turning and becoming sharper and more hysterical in a desperate attempt to try to convince the Australian people he will repeal carbon pricing. We know he will not.

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