Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question, if not some of the commentary on the way through. Australia has a proud record as being a global leader when it comes to making and meeting commitments in relation to emissions reduction. Australia stands as a very rare country. In terms of the commitments of the first Kyoto period, we met those commitments and exceeded those commitments. We're on track in relation to the commitments of the second Kyoto period—to meet those commitments and to exceed them by more than 300 million tonnes of abatement. And our government has made further commitments in relation to the Paris Agreement out to 2030. Those commitments are for a reduction in Australia's emissions of some 26 per cent. That's Australia's contribution as part of a global effort, and we firmly acknowledge that it takes a global effort. That's why they are part of global agreements. Australia has met and exceeded all of our targets and we intend very much to meet and ideally exceed our 2030 target. That's why our government has outlined, very clearly and in detail, our Climate Solutions Package. The Climate Solutions Package contains the Climate Solutions Fund. That's identified to provide some 103 million tonnes of abatement over the target period.

Overall, it contains projects such as the Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link, contributing some 25 million tonnes of abatement; and energy efficiency projects, contributing some 63 million tonnes of abatement. Ultimately, we outline very precisely the 201 million tonnes of abatement as part of that Climate Solutions Package—all of it contributing towards Australia playing our role, a leading role in the globe, meeting and exceeding the commitments that we make and doing so in a way whereby we encourage others to join us on that journey.