Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The question was put to Mr Turnbull by Laurie Oakes. When Mr Turnbull replied: ‘Well Laurie,’ I presume that was a response to Laurie Oakes—unless there was some other Laurie in the room—the point of it being:

Well Laurie, the Shergold report…remains our policy.

The Shergold report says:

It is our view that the costs that are clearly there for taking action now are probably more than offset from the potential risks of not taking action.

What we have again is simply this: whether it is on economic stimulus, whether it is on Work Choices, whether it is on carbon pollution reduction, the Leader of the Opposition changes his policy by the day and by the week. Is it any wonder that people in this nation ask where the Liberal Party stand on any matter of policy today when this Leader of the Opposition changes his policy by the minute, by the hour, by the month or least every six months?

This government’s approach to the challenge of climate change is consistent. We believe we must get the balance right between dealing with the challenge of climate change for the future and doing it responsibly to support jobs and the economy and to engender the job creation which will come out of the renewable energy sector of the economy. We have been consistent throughout. Less than nine months ago the Leader of the Opposition had precisely the policy I have just described. Nine months later, under pressure from elsewhere in his party, he has flip-flopped yet again.

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