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

The reason we do not admit that the age of coal is over is that it is not. It is very hard to admit to something that is not true. In this government we believe in telling the truth. We believe in being open and transparent with the Australian people. Why would you want me to say something that I know to be untrue? I will not, and nobody on this side of the parliament will. I would love to continue to have these conversations with Senator Waters and the Greens about coal, but I have got to say what I have said here before: I find it very hard to take the Greens seriously on this because right now they are fighting for regular reductions in the tax on fuel. Right now they are fighting to hand back hundreds of millions of dollars to big oil. So do not come in here telling us sanctimoniously how we should shut down the coal industry and shut down the iron ore industry and shut down farming and go and sit in caves. We actually want to continue to grow the economy. We want to continue to lift living standards. That is what we are doing. But, you go— (Time expired)