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

I thank Senator Birmingham for his continued interest in setting a price on carbon, particularly in the US. It is important to look at the global action that is being taken to address climate change. I know Senator Birmingham is fixated on the US, but even California and a range of states have looked at how they can reduce their carbon. They have worked through a range of opportunities to reduce their carbon emissions and provide one of the additional global actions that are being taken. Many countries are also undertaking the same action.

The climate change commission, as I mentioned yesterday, completely dispels the myth that Senator Birmingham wants to purvey. Senator Birmingham's major premise in his question is that no-one is taking action on climate change and that the US is typical of that large block that is not taking action. But if you look at the facts, you see that the global community is taking action on climate change, including states within the US. Why? They want to ensure that they reduce their carbon emissions because they understand that climate change is real and they believe that they need to take action to address carbon emissions. Ninety countries representing about 90 per cent of the global economy have committed to reduce their carbon pollution and have policies in place to give effect to that. Those are the facts on what is occurring throughout this area. The commission's report also concluded that a carbon price is the most cost-effective way to reduce emissions and is more efficient than any direct subsidy policy. Those opposite would tell us that their direct action would work. It would not work, it would not provide the opportunity— (Time expired)