George Campbell (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Your government has an appalling record, Senator Ferguson, when it comes to environmental policy. You have spent the past 10 years ignoring climate change. In a period when action was required, you have spent 10 years ignoring it. The government will not ratify Kyoto. They will not set targets for cutting greenhouse pollution. They will not increase mandatory renewable energy targets and they have not appointed a minister for climate change.

Your government has failed to take any lead on a national carbon trading scheme. Even businesses such as Rio Tinto are calling for a national trading scheme because they know that it makes sense. So where does your government stand on climate change? One of the key ministers, the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, continues to deny that climate change even exists, and he is not alone on the government side.