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

I thank Senator Wong for the question, albeit I don't accept the premise of all aspects of that question. Indeed, the government went to the last election, as we have to previous elections, with commitments to emissions reductions targets. We didn't have the same commitments as those opposite—that's true—just as we didn't have the same policies as those opposite, but we certainly went to the election with emissions reduction targets. Despite the fact that those opposite, and others, when we've outlined coalition policies to achieve those targets, have always said, 'It will fail; the targets won't be met; the government's public policy won't achieve it,' guess what has happened on every single occasion? Of course, we have actually exceeded the targets. The policies have worked. The policies have delivered the emissions reductions targets. And that is what we continue to do. It's what we continue to do in terms of delivering and achieving the 2030 emissions reductions targets which we took to the last election. Contrary to what Senator Wong said, the debate at the last election was about whether or not the Labor Party, with an increased target, had a plan, had a policy, had had it costed and had any idea of how they were going to achieve it. The coalition outlined how we were going to achieve our targets, and I'm very pleased to say we are on track to meet those targets. We are on track to exceed those targets.

In doing so it helps to ensure that, on a per person basis, Australia's reduction of emissions is indeed amongst some of the biggest in the world. On a per person basis, we are achieving close to a 50 per cent reduction in emissions. Even on an absolute basis, in terms of the rate of emissions reductions, we are achieving faster rates of emissions reductions than Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the United States. I don't say that to criticise those nations; it's just a statement of what is occurring and a demonstration that, despite the fact that those opposite like to try to talk Australia down and like to try to be negative in some ways in relation to our achievements, our emissions are trending down, and we continue to deliver policies to achieve that. (Time expired)