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

Dog whistling usually comes later in question time when it comes to the questions asked by those opposite—or to use another analogy when it comes to whistling in the dark I can see a lot of that in the ranks of those opposite.

The government has engaged in good faith negotiations with the opposition because we believe it is in the national interest to bring about a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. We believe it is in the national interest for Australia—the hottest and driest continent on earth—to act. We believe that it is in our interest to act now. We have done so mindful of the fact that those opposite themselves took the proposal for an emissions trading scheme to the previous election. My appeal to all those opposite who are of goodwill is to get behind this scheme. Australia cannot wait another 10 years. Australia must get on with acting now and my appeal to all members opposite is to get behind, in a bipartisan spirit, this necessary national reform—the biggest reform for the environment that this country has seen in its history and also a substantial and significant reform for our economy. I appeal to those opposite to stand with the government in the national interest.

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