Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

The only thing we have on the table in front of us is an amendment from Senator Singh, on behalf of the Labor Party, which is proposing to keep the carbon tax by modifying it slightly and rebadging it. This is something the government does not support, which is why I have made it very clear that the government will not be supporting this amendment. I do not accept many of the assertions that Senator Singh has made.

This has been extensively debated now for many years. Repeating assertions that are not accurate does not make them true. The government has been very clear about the policy we are pursuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We will be doing it through our Direct Action policy, which will achieve the five per cent reduction in emissions by 2020, on 2000 levels. The carbon tax is a tax that people across Australia have voted on. They voted against it. They want this carbon tax gone. That is the position we come with to the Senate.