Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator opposite for the opportunity to talk on the carbon price and how, after 100 days, the sky has not fallen in. No; it has not fallen in. Whyalla has not been wiped off the map; it continues. What we do have is a transition for a carbon price into an emissions trading scheme, which I am sure those opposite, or some of them at least, truly believe in, but they have been stifled by those opposite.

We have an opportunity for them now to come clean and admit that they do support the carbon price, they do support the transition to a clean energy future. We have a system which is now going to ensure that we can move to a clean energy future; one where, after 100 days, we have been able to demonstrate to those opposite that the price on carbon will motivate people to change their behaviour, to drive the price down. We have, after 100 days, none of the effects that those opposite outlined, none of the impacts that they outlined; the scare campaign that those opposite have concentrated on has absolutely fallen flat.

We can rule out that if those opposite were to be in government they would not change it. They would adopt it and continue to have an emissions trading scheme in place. They would not rule it out. That is what I can guarantee. I would hate to see the day that you would have to be put to that— (Time expired)