Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

On the question of Australia's carbon pricing system, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition apparently does not know or has forgotten for the moment that, in putting a price on carbon, Australia will be joining 850 million people around the world who live in nations where there is a price on carbon. We know that many nations around the world are taking steps to put a price on carbon, because they too will see their economies and their nations join the 850 million people currently covered by carbon pricing. For example, in the days I was in Mexico and then in Rio, I had the opportunity to meet with President Lee of the Republic of Korea. Korea is moving to an emissions trading scheme, to give just one example in our region, and is a very important trading partner of Australia's and a very important strategic partner in our region. And so, around the world, whether it be in Europe or whether it be in our region of the world, we are seeing people price carbon because of the global challenge of climate change. And we are seeing people price carbon—

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