Rex Patrick (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Canavan, move general business notice of motion No. 1251:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, by no later than 10 am on 21 October 2021, the detailed modelling that the Government has that forecasts Australian exports in gas, resources and agriculture under the Government's 2050 net zero emissions reduction strategy.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Go ahead.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia has a longstanding principle of cabinet confidentiality. This is essential to the effective operation of Australia's executive government. Cabinet confidentiality is a foundation principle of the Westminster system dating back to the 1600s. The disclosure of cabinet documents, as required by this motion, would fundamentally undermine this foundation principle. Cabinet documents will continue to be released in the agreed-upon manner prescribed under the Archives Act 1983.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Senator Canavan is correct, this time, that cabinet modelling on 2050 net zero is rubbish and it should be released for public examination and scrutiny. There is simply no path to net zero under which gas will increase. The modelling will show what the cabinet wants it to show in order to solve the government's political problem—that they can convince their MPs that there's some magical fairyland ahead where demand for Australia's fossil fuels will be greater than it is today. But in fact the International Energy Agency just last week surveyed those countries that have lifted their 2030 targets—customers of our coal and gas exports—and their analysis was that, if they meet those commitments, global use of fossil fuels will peak by 2025 and fall thereafter. They can also expect the clean energy market under net zero to be worth $1.2 trillion a year, greater than today's oil market. So let's not waste any more time and get on with creating the hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.