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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) thanks workers in thermal coal mining operations for their contribution to our economy, and notes that coal workers and communities are not to blame for the climate emergency we are in;

(b) notes that, to have any chance of avoiding the worst of the climate emergency, thermal coal use must be phased out; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to develop a plan for the phasing out of thermal coal exports, with a just transition plan for all affected workers and communities so that no person is left behind without secure employment.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) | Link to this | Hansard source

The thermal coal industry provides real jobs, and coal was Australia's largest single export earner last year. Thermal coal exports brought in an estimated $26 billion in 2018-19—a new record. The taxes, royalties and income generated by Australia's coal industry enable new investment in education, roads and hospitals, providing jobs and opportunities for current and future generations of Australians. The Greens should quit demonising the coal industry, and its workers should not be forced to transition to jobs you can bet won't be in their home towns in rural and regional areas. Instead, they should be recognised for the hard work they do for our nation.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition will be opposing this motion. We note the sentiments expressed by the Greens in paragraph (a) and in them thanking workers in the thermal coal mining operations and for noting that coal workers are not to blame for the climate emergency we are in. We can only take that as a concession from the Greens that they did totally the wrong thing by backing in a coal convoy during the federal election. This is their way of apologising to coal communities for demonising them in the way that they did during the election. However, Labor will be opposing this motion for the reasons that we've opposed so many motions from the Greens this week. Climate policy and the future of coal communities are far too important matters to be left to the Greens with their silly wedge motions that they come in here and move time after time. We know they've got the meme ready to go. We know they've got the email petitions ready to go. We're not going to be a part of this. We're for serious debate about climate change. We're for serious debate about the future of coal communities, not silly games from the Greens.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

This is day 10, and One Nation opposes this motion. On Monday 9 September in this chamber I challenged the Greens to provide the specific location of the empirical scientific evidence and logical framework that scientifically proves that carbon dioxide from human activity affects climate and needs to be cut. It is now day 10, and the Greens continue to not provide any evidence as proof of their unsubstantiated, wild, false and damaging claims. Secondly, on the same day I challenged the Greens to a debate on the climate science and on the corruption of climate science. It is now day 10, as I said, and the Greens continue to fail to debate me. But one thing is new, and that is: I finally agree with Senator Murray Watt.

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

There have been some odd combinations today! The question is the motion moved by Senator Di Natale be agreed to.