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

I refer the Leader of the Opposition to my statements during the 2010 campaign that our nation should have an emissions trading scheme. Indeed, if the Leader of the Opposition wants to get himself involved in the history books, he should look at his own statements in favour of a price on carbon and, if he has still got some time left—heaven knows he must have a lot of time; he does not do any policy work—maybe he could get out former Prime Minister Howard's statements on an emissions trading scheme. Maybe he could look at the documents that the cabinet he sat in authorised for publication, committing the then Howard government—of which he says he was proud to be a part—to putting a price on carbon. Yes, we will get to that emissions trading scheme through a fixed price for three years—what is referred to as a carbon tax.

The Leader of the Opposition will never be able to walk away from his track record of having supported a price on carbon; he will never be able to say to the Australian people that his scheme is cheaper per tonne of carbon pollution; and he will never be able to say to the Australian people that, if he was ever Prime Minister, prices would somehow mysteriously go down. It is time for this mendacious campaign to end. (Time expired)

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