Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

This is a government that is putting forward a comprehensive set of policies to tackle climate change and drive investment in renewables, unlike the Howard government that was in place for so many years in this country. The fact is that the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and renewable energy target assistance are linked, because this government understand that we need both of these policies in place if we are to seriously tackle climate change. This is a government that also understand that industry will need assistance in relation to both policies. So, when we were designing assistance under the renewable energy target legislation, this government listened to those in industry who asked us to consider the cumulative, combined impact of both the CPRS and the renewable energy target. This is a position we made clear in the April COAG meeting that Senator Birmingham referred to, and it is a pity that the opposition did not read the communique before time. (Time expired)