John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to correct an answer I gave earlier today. The Leader of the Opposition asked me the following question. He quoted a remark made by the industry minister:

... ‘I am a sceptic of the connection between emissions and climate change’ ... Does the Prime Minister support this statement?

I mistook that as a reference to the connection between climate change and drought, and my interpretation is evident from the transcript of my answer, where I referred to a farmer who was mentioned in the press this morning. I also went on to talk quite a bit about the drought and the government’s response. Having read the transcript of the question, it is quite clear that I did mistake it. I was wrong to talk about climate change and drought when the question was about climate change and emissions. For the record, I do believe there is a connection between climate change and emissions. I do not really think the jury is out on that. I do think that the jury is out on the connection between climate change and drought, and that is a view shared by the shadow minister, the member for Kingsford Smith. I thank the House.