Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I have seen reports—

Senator Payne interjecting—

No, you can get up in a minute, Minister. You don't get the chance to talk over me when I'm on my feet and you're not.

The CHAIR: Senator McKim, please resume your seat.

I have seen—

Senator Payne interjecting—

The CHAIR: Order! Senator McKim has the right to be heard in silence. Senator McKim, please direct your remarks to the chair.

Thank you, Chair. I've seen reports that one of Minister Payne's speeches to that forum did not mention climate change. Pacific island nations have shown global leadership on this issue, because some of them are going to disappear this century, Minister. It's not good enough for you and your government not to take the issue of emissions reduction seriously. Australia should be a global leader in showing the way forward on this issue. It is a disgrace that we have a Prime Minister who basically said this week that Australians are not interested in climate change. He's wrong. The polls show he's wrong. It's part of the reason why he's going to be ignominiously turfed out of government next year, along with Minister Payne and all his colleagues. He is misreading the mood of the nation.

Australians want strong action on climate change. They want far stronger action than even the Australian Labor Party are proposing on climate change. In fact, it is the Greens who are proposing setting a pollution standard for power stations and progressively shutting them, starting with the worst first. It is only the Greens in this place who oppose the Adani coalmine. The Queensland Labor government wanted to give free coal, free water and free money to one of the most corrupt corporations in the world, the Adani Group. That's exactly what they were doing. The Liberal National Party—

The CHAIR: Senator McKim—

Oh, we've hit a nerve here now, haven't we!

The CHAIR: please resume your seat. Senator Cameron on a point of order?