Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Hansard source

We don't support this motion, because, when you get past the bluster, the tokenism, the positioning and the politics, when you get down to the facts, we are already taking strong action. We have strong targets, we have a clear plan and we have an exemplary track record, one that members in this place and, indeed, all Australians can be proud of. The truth is that those opposite and the Greens, who proposed this motion, would rather cover their ears than hear the facts. That's why I welcome the opportunity to talk to this motion.

Let me say at the outset that Australia is 100 per cent committed to the Paris Agreement and to strong and practical global action as a response to climate change. We are the government that signed up to the Paris Agreement. We welcome the United States to the Paris Agreement. We've adopted a 2030 target as our nationally determined contribution, which those opposite have walked away from. We are the government that have set out a clear plan to meet and beat that target, that are making investments that will enable us to meet and beat that target—and beyond. We are the government that remained committed throughout to the Kyoto protocol when others waivered. Canada quit, and their emissions are virtually unchanged since 2005 while we have reduced our emissions by 16.6 per cent. New Zealand refused to commit to a second Kyoto target, and their emissions have barely budged since 2005 as ours have come down by 16.6 per cent.

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