Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to page 18 of the government's own modelling document. I refer to the statement on page 18 which shows that, under the carbon tax, Australia's emissions will rise from 578 million tonnes now to 621 million tonnes in 2020. I ask the Prime Minister: what is the point of a carbon tax if it does not get Australia's own domestic emissions down?

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

In answer to the Leader of the Opposition's question I would remind him that he and I, the government and the opposition have exactly the same target for the reduction of carbon pollution in 2020. The figures that he refers to are figures which would apply to his target as well. What the Leader of the Opposition fails to recognise is the difference in the two schemes. Ours is a price that is paid by big polluters and as a result we cut carbon pollution. We then use that revenue to assist Australian families by cutting tax, increasing family payments and increasing pensions. We protect Australian jobs and we invest in a clean energy future. Under the Leader of the Opposition's plan to reach exactly the same target he puts a tax on families—

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order on direct relevance. I asked her about her plan which shows that emissions will actually increase from 578 million tonnes to 621 million tonnes with the carbon tax. What is the point, Prime Minister?

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition has made his point of order. The Prime Minister has the call. She knows her responsibilities.

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

Under the Leader of the Opposition's plan he would oppose additional tax on Australian families. He would give that money to big polluters, he would cut pensions and he would cut family payments. Here we go again. We are apparently back to that moment where the Leader of the Opposition went to a meeting and decried his own target as crazy, only within 24 or 48 hours to recant from that. We are back to that moment again so—

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The House will come to order. The Prime Minister must directly relate her material to the question and she will be heard in silence.

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

I am directing my answer to the target of the government and the opposition for the reduction of carbon pollution in 2020. The difference here is that the government backs that target in every day of the week, the Leader of the Opposition tailors his answers on that target to whatever audience he is speaking to that day.