Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, representing the Prime Minister. There are reports today that the Paris climate agreement is effectively being sabotaged by the Trump and Morrison governments. Indeed, your own Energy Security Board has concluded that without any energy policy, which is your current position, there is no way that Australia can meet our measly emissions targets. If the Energy Security Board is wrong, please tell us how you will meet our Paris climate targets?

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

Firstly, I am happy to confirm the government does remain committed to the Paris agreement. We are confident that will meet the commitments that we've made as part of the Paris agreement. Looking at our track record, Australia not only met but exceeded our agreements as part of the Kyoto agreement. We are confident we will meet the commitments under the Paris agreement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Di Natale, on a supplementary question?

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has concluded his answer.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was on my feet before he sat down. You were looking down at the time, Mr President.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has indicated that he has concluded his answer, so you can move on to a supplementary question.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He was still on his feet, while you were looking down, Mr President, and I was standing up. I would ask you to review that.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has concluded his answer.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He was still on his feet.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He has now indicated that he has concluded his answer.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was on my feet before he had indicated that.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am inviting you to ask a supplementary question.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The former Prime Minister's son, Alex Turnbull, said that big coal donors are using political donations to advance their own selfish commercial interests. Isn't it clear you are walking away from any action on climate change because you are beholden to those big corporate interests?

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

No, I completely reject every assertion in that question

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Di Natale, a final supplementary question?

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister was photographed in the House of Representatives cradling a lump of coal. He was cradling a lump of coal in the parliament of Australia. Greenpeace are never going to let you forget it and neither are we. How can the Australian people have any faith that you are governing for them rather than governing for your big corporate donors?

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right! I have asked repeatedly for order and silence during questions. That applies to both sides of the chamber.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development (Senate)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It wasn't coal; it was Barnaby Joyce!

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sterle, take a breath after I call the chamber to order.

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

I know somebody who once used to cradle coal-fired power and that was one Dr Bob Brown, who said coal was the best option when he was fighting thermal power in the great state of Tasmania. What I would say is that the Greens are quite on their own in relation to this. When I last looked, coal was our second biggest export earner. It's actually an incredibly important part of our national economic success into the future. When I last looked, a significant proportion of our energy supplies came from coal generated energy. The Energy Security Board projected, in the context of the National Energy Guarantee, that 60 per cent of our energy supplies in the national electricity market by 2030 would come from coal-fired energy. (Time expired)