Senate debates

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

Motions

Climate Change

4:56 pm

Photo of Sarah Hanson-YoungSarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1321 standing in my name.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) national emissions levels for the June quarter 2018 increased 1.3% relative to the previous quarter on a seasonally adjusted and weather normalised basis,

(ii) with emissions continuing to rise, and no clear plan to reduce them, we are set to miss our Paris targets, and

(iii) the Minister for the Environment, Ms Price, will represent Australia at the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24); and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to make the following short statement to the COP24: Australia has not taken seriously its responsibilities to meeting its Paris Commitments, and will dramatically lift its ambitions to play its part in averting the climate crisis.

4:57 pm

Photo of Anne RustonAnne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of Anne RustonAnne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | | Hansard source

The Australian government is keeping the economy strong and reducing emissions. We will beat our 2020 emissions reduction target and meet our 2030 target without harming Australian businesses and households that rely on affordable and reliable energy. Australia is committed to our Paris target, which is responsible and achievable. A 26 per cent target is the equivalent of a 52 per cent reduction in our per person emissions, which is among the highest of any G20 country. The Minister for the Environment will represent Australia at the COP24 conference in Poland, advocating for good progress on the rules that will govern the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 1321 be agreed to.