Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

I appreciate very much the question from the Leader of the Opposition. When you are a patriotic party of government, you celebrate national successes whether you are in opposition or in government. That's the approach the Labor Party in opposition took when John Howard chaired APEC with our support. It's the approach the Labor Party took when Tony Abbott chaired the G20 with our support. It's the approach the Labor Party took to support the appointment of Mathias Cormann as secretary-general of the OECD. I'm even old enough to remember the Labor Party in government supporting the appointment of Malcolm Fraser as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. I'm even old enough to remember that!

If you are serious party of government, you want your country to do well whether you are in opposition or in government. I'm pleased that this government's achievements have been recognised with the appointment of COP negotiations president. I am pleased about that. It tells you a lot about the modern Liberal Party. In a domestic debate they say, 'Well, look, we shouldn't take any action on climate change because we're just one per cent of emissions.' When you say that maybe Australia could play an international role and help the rest of the world to decarbonise, that's a terrible thing too. We couldn't possibly have that!

This is a testament to Australia. It's a testament to my team. I thank the assistant minister, the member for Fremantle, who represented Australia at the first week of COP very well. I thank my special envoy, Kate Thwaites, the member for Jagajaga, who represented me at the G20. They will both continue to represent me at other international meetings as well.

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