Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Ludwig, the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. As a result of Labor's decision to link its carbon tax to the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, Australian coal producers will pay the European carbon price equivalent whilst higher-emitting European coal producers will not have to pay anything at all because fugitive emissions are excluded from the EU scheme. Indeed, higher-emitting coal producers in Europe will continue to receive subsidies whilst Australian coal producers will pay the European carbon price. Can the government explain the logic to the coal workers who are currently under threat and some losing their jobs: why will Australian coal producers pay a tax but their competitors in Europe receive a subsidy?