Senate debates

Monday, 30 November 2009

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — Customs) Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — Excise) Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — General) Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Excise Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Customs Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Amendment (Household Assistance) Bill 2009 [No. 2]

In Committee

1:46 pm

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

I am sure everyone in the chamber is trying to imagine Senator McGauran at the Wimmera Field Day in his RM Williams and his chinos. Did he wear a blue shirt too? Did he swagger and did they believe he was one of them? It is hard to know. But, jokes aside, that was a contribution against Australia acting on climate change. That was a contribution against an emissions trading scheme. This is the question I would pose to the coalition, who say, ‘We do not want an emissions trading scheme.’ We say: ‘That was your election policy. That is what you told the Australian people you would do.’ Prime Minister Howard stood up in front of the nation and said, ‘We will have an emissions trading scheme.’ Your policy said it would be the most comprehensive in the world and it would be no later than 2012. The way they try to deal with it is by saying, ‘Oh, not this scheme.’ Well, what are the changes you would make? You are very quiet over there. If your proposition is that we should not act because Australia’s—

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