Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I hope the sun shines soon. My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. The energy minister, in his part-time role, just confirmed he signed up to an agreement which compels Australia to phase out three of our top 10 exports, including gas, coal and crude petroleum, with a combined value of $163 billion in trade. When asked yesterday about this action by the full-time president, the minister for trade said, 'I don't tell him how to run his portfolio; he certainly doesn't tell me how to run mine.' Whilst working as a part-time minister, did the full-time COP president consult the minister for trade before signing this executive order?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my left, we are well past the time. I could rule this question out of order, because there was no question. It's well past the time. We're just going to take the House to order. If people continue, they won't be here. I ask the minister to continue.

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

Certainly—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I've just been very clear. The member for Hume will leave the chamber under 94(a).

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

I thank the honourable member for his question. He asked me about the transition away from fossil fuels, which, as I said, the leaders of the Pacific—Australia, New Zealand and Pacific nations—agreed to on 10 November 2023. It was then reflected in the COP decision language later that year in Dubai, and that is something that was reflected in that COP decision. Yes, Australia did join with other countries in the declaration on the transition away from fossil fuels. I can understand why this is offensive to those opposite because it says:

We reaffirm that the best available science must guide the implementation of the transition.

That's what Australia agreed with those countries. I know the word 'science' triggers those opposite because they find that offensive. Other countries that called for a roadmap for a transition away from fossil fuels at the COP last week in Belem include Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea, which I note also announced the closing of all their coal-fired power stations by 2040. Those terrible woke warriors in the Republic of Korea are closing all their coal-fired power stations earlier than Australia. Around 80 countries called for a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuel.

I know that those opposite aren't real good on international engagement. I know they couldn't get a Chinese minister to return their calls for two years. I know that they saw the Pacific as something that they just didn't care about and that they lost control of the geopolitical environment in the Pacific, something this government has turned around. We are acting in good company internationally and will continue to do so because we will—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Herbert is now warned.

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

express our support for things like reaffirming that the best available science must guide the implementation of the transition. We also saw the Prime Minister acting in good company at the G20 on the weekend—something that a prime minister Ley could not have signed up to—with the 19 biggest economies that the Prime Minister was able to sign up to, which, with her policy, minister Ley—if there was such an unfortunate event—could not sign up to.