Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. This is a serious public policy debate, and we need to deal with the issues seriously, not pull stunts and not try to pretend that these are not serious issues that need to be addressed. Imposing a price on carbon will increase the cost of certain goods and services in the community. The architecture of the scheme that we finally settle on has not yet been determined. We have a process by which we are trying to get in place a price on carbon. There are a whole range of issues that need to be determined as we move forward. The rest of the parliament, apart from the Liberal and National parties, are intent on trying to engage in that debate, trying to be serious about the challenges. They are trying to grapple with this challenge. I remind people that Prime Minister Howard recognised this back in 2007. He said:

Significantly reducing emissions will mean higher costs for businesses and households, there is no escaping that and anyone who pretends to do otherwise is not a serious participant in this hugely important public policy debate.

I urge senators like Senator Barnett to listen to what Prime Minister Howard had to say about that. His running around and saying that the world is going to end et cetera is not a constructive contribution to the debate. (Time expired)