Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I might remind the member for Ryan and the other members of the Greens political party that I am the first environment minister ever to refuse a coalmine, and I was able to do that because the law allowed me to do that, because of the risk to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. I judge every project according to the law, but the important thing to remember here is this government is determined to achieve net zero carbon emissions for Australia. We're determined to get to 82 per cent renewable energy. The approvals that I'm making for renewable energy, including working with the Minister for Climate Change and Energy on massive offshore wind farms around the coast of Australia—that's what will help us get to net zero.

That's what will help us get to 82 per cent renewable energy.

I might also remind those members asking questions today that we have legislated a safeguard mechanism to deal with these large projects—a safeguard mechanism that you signed on to, that you voted for. This government is determined to ensure that Australia is on the pathway to net zero. The Greens have teamed up with the Liberals before to block action on climate change. We're all about delivery. We're about the hard slog of government, not the slogans of opposition.

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