Senate debates
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Bills
Clean Energy Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Income Tax Rates Amendments) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Household Assistance Amendments) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Tax Laws Amendments) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Fuel Tax Legislation Amendment) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Customs Tariff Amendment) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Excise Tariff Legislation Amendment) Bill 2011, Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment Bill 2011, Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Unit Shortfall Charge — General) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge — Auctions) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge — Fixed Charge) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (International Unit Surrender Charge) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Charges — Customs) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Charges — Excise) Bill 2011, Clean Energy Regulator Bill 2011, Climate Change Authority Bill 2011; In Committee
11:36 am
Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source
I am particularly joyful that this great moment should be being shared by so many of the citizens of this country in the galleries here today. This is a democracy which is functioning. This is a democracy which is working in the interests not only of this generation but also of all Australian and global generations to come.
We are confronted not only to see how best we can line our pockets and take from the planet in our own time in a three-year cycle but also to go beyond that and ask ourselves whether people 50 or 500 years from now will thank us for what we are doing. And people 50 or 500 years from now will thank us for the passage of this legislation, with one caveat: they will know that this was timid, that it was short of the mark but that, nevertheless, in a divided parliament, it had a gallantry, a far-sightedness, integrity and honesty with future generations—which have the numbers in this chamber.
Senator Brandis interjecting—
The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! Senator Brandis, you will have to withdraw that remark.
Senator Brandis interjecting—
Senator Wong interjecting—
The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Stand and withdraw, please, Senator Brandis.
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