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

I thank the member for Goldstein for his question. It enables me to get some of the facts on the table. Once again I understand that the opposition is going to start interjecting once the word 'facts' is said because they cannot stand facts, cannot deal with them, because of course they always stand in the way of the fear campaign that the member for Goldstein is trying to run at the instruction of the Leader of the Opposition. I would refer him to the following facts: the Clean Energy Finance Corporation was established almost a year ago and it is now carrying out its legislative mandate to look at clean energy proposals which it can begin to invest in from 1 July.

When you look at who is making the decisions at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, of course, you see people with extensive business experience. In raising these criticisms, the member for Goldstein is effectively insulting them. There has been a resounding positive response to date from the market, demonstrating the positive role that the Clean Energy Finance Corporation can play in providing finance for the clean-energy sector.

Indeed, it is recognised by countries overseas as an example of a good way to cartelise clean technology investment. We understand that on that side of politics, amongst their very many plans for wrecking the Australian economy, what they want to introduce into our national economic debate is sovereign risk. What they want to say to responsible business people—

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