Vince Connelly (Stirling, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One of the defining challenges of our times is the requirement to materially reduce global emissions. I'm the father of three beautiful children and, of course, I want to give them the benefits of enjoying the wonderful environment that I've been able to enjoy. It's unfortunate, though, that those opposite seek to perpetuate the myth that Australia is somehow not pulling its weight in reducing emissions. The reality is quite the opposite. We're on track to meet our 2030 Paris target. On a per capita basis, that's a reduction of 50 per cent on 2005 levels. Australia is installing renewable energy capacity at 10 times the world average on a watts per capita basis. We currently source around a quarter of our electricity from renewables in our National Electricity Market, and this is projected to grow to more than 40 per cent by 2025. But, of course, there is more that we are committing to do, and that new plan is being prepared right now—a plan which will be ready for the next round of climate talks in Glasgow later this year. I would encourage my Labor Party colleagues in this place not to be drawn into the Greens' unworkable, ill-conceived thought bubbles which would trash our economy because I want my kids to enjoy a healthy environment and also to have a job and a decent standard of living, which we all in this place enjoy now. We owe it to our children to provide them—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—