Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator McAllister, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the address of New South Wales Minister for Energy and Environment and Liberal Matt Kean MP on 10 December 2019 to the National Smart Energy Summit;

(b) endorses Minister Kean's:

(i) acknowledgement that this summer's "...bushfires have been caused by extreme weather events, high temperatures, the worst drought in living memory – the exact type of events scientists have been warning us about for decades that would be caused by climate change",

(ii) observation that "We cannot allow ideology and politics to get in the way of our clear path to secure our economic prosperity, let alone the health of our planet for generations of Australians", and

(iii) statement that "... taking action to reduce our emissions today is not about a cost that we are morally obliged to pay, it's about taking an economic opportunity that we would be negligent to miss";

(c) concurs with Minister Kean that "renewables today are the cheapest form of new generation"; and

(d) calls on Prime Minister Morrison to listen to Minister Kean and experts across all fields and take strong action to address climate change.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

The government is committed to achieving our emissions reduction targets at home and contributing to global action. We are reducing Australia's emissions while also keeping our economy strong. Emissions are coming down and we are on track to meet and beat our targets. At the same time, we are putting downward pressure on electricity prices. Our national target is achievable, responsible and part of coordinated global action.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

One Nation will be opposing this motion. When we discuss matters claimed to be based on science, we insist upon empirical data within a scientific framework that logically proves causation. We look forward to senators and other MPs who engage in this climate debate providing empirical scientific evidence which logically proves causation.

Question agreed to.