Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

(—) (): I'll tell you what we prioritise, we prioritise the national interest. We prioritise the public interest. We prioritise jobs. We prioritise opportunity for Australians to get ahead. You know what, we're doing so in a way that is absolutely committed to strong environmental protection, strong environmental standards, but we will ensure that we pursue environmental protection in a way that is economically responsible. You are, sort of, now trying to say that gas is a terrible thing. Australian gas can help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, in particular when it displaces other more polluting energy sources. This proposition that somehow we ought to demonise any form of Australian produced energy source is ridiculous. You go to the next election demonising gas production when it's one of our very important sectors in our economy, making a productive and positive contribution to environmental protection. You go right ahead. We will— (Time expired)