Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Minister, new data released today shows that Australia is barely reducing its carbon emissions. They have slightly fallen to 437.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions for the 12 months to June 2025. When the government came to power over three years ago, annual emissions were 440.5 million tonnes. So in three years the government has achieved an annual emissions run rate of just one million tonnes per year. During the last coalition government, emissions reduced at a rate of 13 million tonnes per year. Minister, why was the last Liberal-National government able to cut emissions at a rate 13 times your rate, despite your promise to get the net zero by 2050?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a tough day for our colleagues in the National Party. I know that our opponents hope for and pray for a little bit of bad performance, because nothing fills their hearts full of joy more than a bad outcome. But this is an unambiguously good outcome. It is true—it's a bit like the opposition's approach to covert accounting in a range of other areas—that during the COVID period emissions in areas like transport declined. That is true. But what has happened here is an unambiguously good outcome where the equivalent of our whole aviation sector, in emissions terms, has reduced.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, that's not it, mate. That's not it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, you've asked your question.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't want to trigger anybody over there, but it is an uptick in emissions performance. And that is a good thing. But I know that this question really is framed by the politics of negativity and the old fogey politics of hating on the science of climate change, hating on emissions reduction and really being absolutely focused on trying to talk national endeavour in these areas down. By all means, continue on that path.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, first supplementary?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To get to the government's target of 62 per cent emissions reduction by 2035, Australia must cut its emissions at an annual rate of 21 million tonnes per year for the next 10 years. Given the government's only been cutting emissions at a rate of one million tonnes per year, how is a 62 per cent target realistic or affordable for Australians?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the year to June 2025, Australia's total emissions decreased by 10 megatonnes, or 2.2 per cent.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What's a megatonne?

Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is a megatonne?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our annual emissions are now 29 per cent below 2005 levels. We've seen decreased electricity emissions, reflecting record renewables generation. What we are seeing is—

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Megatonne Timmy!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan and Senator McDonald, come to order!

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can't get your numbers—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan!

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We've seen decreased emissions in agriculture, decreased emissions from industrial processes, decreased emissions in stationary energy and decreased fugitive emissions. These reflect the efforts not just of the Commonwealth government but of industry to work hard to achieve these outcomes in the national interest.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, second supplementary?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, to get to net zero by 2050, Australia's required run rate for emissions reduction is 18 million tonnes per year, but the government has been going at a run rate of just one million tonnes per year. At that rate, we'll hit net zero in the year 2462. Minister, isn't it time to declare your innings on your failing net zero batting efforts, given that even Travis Head couldn't lift a run rate this low? Let's face it: Chris Bowen ain't no Travis Head.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't want to overdo the cricket analogy, but it's sort of like Jonny Bairstow wandering out the front of his crease—you know, wandering around. What's happened? Barnaby's gone! Like the National Party, he's gone so far right he's stumped!

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Henderson.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of—

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She's setting the pace!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right! Minister Watt! Senator Henderson.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, stop making faces at me, would you?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson! Resume your seat.

Government senators interjecting—

Order on my right! Minister Watt! Senator Henderson.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, President, Senator Watt just made a very inappropriate comment which was unparliamentary. Could you please ask him to withdraw that.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, I did not hear any inappropriate comments, but I know that Minister Watt, if he thinks he did make an inappropriate comment, would withdraw that.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've been misrepresented before, so what I said is that Senator Henderson is setting the pace for the coalition, and I withdraw.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Senator Henderson.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I ask that, when withdrawals are being made, they be made unconditionally, without commentary. I ask that you bring the minister to order.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, I invited the minister, if he made an unparliamentary comment, to withdraw it. He repeated, I think, the comment. I don't know, because I said to you—

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, he said something else.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're not in a debate with me—

You are not in a debate with me, Senator Henderson! I will refuse to hear you any further if you keep speaking at me. You've made your point of order. I said at the outset of the point of order I didn't hear anything unparliamentary. I think my record on pulling people up on unparliamentary behaviour speaks for itself. I invited the minister, if he made a comment, to withdraw it. He made a comment which was not unparliamentary. Let's move on. I'm going to invite Senator Ayres to continue his response. I remind him that he needs to address the chair.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, I have to confess I have, over the last couple of minutes, lost the thread of whatever the cricket question was over there, President. I'll just say we have got a job to do. We have set targets. Australians have elected this government to deliver lower emissions, to build an electricity system that is modern and fit for purpose, and to get Australian industry up and off the mat. After a decade of disinvestment, of forcing business offshore, this is a government that's for manufacturing and for a modern electricity system.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.