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

Let me say that I do not appreciate the flippant remark which Senator Waters made about the Prime Minister not attending. The Australian government is represented appropriately by Foreign Minister Bishop. It might have escaped the notice of Senator Waters, but the Prime Minister is dealing with some very serious matters in the national interest. The Prime Minister will be travelling to New York later tonight in relation to some very serious matters in the national interest. For Senator Waters to come in here and flippantly suggest that the government is not giving appropriate focus to this particular issue because the Prime Minister is not in attendance during a sitting week is, quite frankly, quite inappropriate.

Having said all of this, of course the Australian government is involved in all of these international processes, as is appropriate, but it is focused on Australia's national interest. Our national interest is to continue to grow the economy in a way that is environmentally sustainable and that is what this government is continuing to do.