Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

We have never been sceptical about climate change; it has existed from day one. I have got news for the Greens: climate has been with us since day one of creation. It is quite clear that Senator Siewert has in fact already given herself an answer to the original question, which was disclosed in her supplementary question. Can I simply remind Senator Siewert and those listening that we as a government established a world-first Australian Greenhouse Office in 1998. Why do you think we did that—because we did not think climate change was an issue? Of course not. We did it because we were genuinely concerned, and we have had a program of ensuring that we engage in this debate on a sensible, slow and rational basis. That is why— (Time expired)