Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The government's decision on the government's commitments for Australia in relation to COP26 will be made by the government in cabinet. That's where it will be made. That's where these decisions are made. All members of the government understand that. All members of the government do the right thing by consulting far and wide, informing their views when they come together to make decisions in the best interests of Australia. And the government, a coalition government—a strong coalition government, working closely together as we have been leading Australia through one of the greatest crises we have seen since the Second World War—is working together constructively to find the right solutions, sensibly, responsibly and cautiously.

This government hasn't gone off and signed a blank-cheque commitment. We haven't gone off and stated a target without a plan. That's what those opposite have done. What we are doing is carefully considering the implications of these very serious issues for Australians right across the country. The Labor Party has signed up to a target without a plan, a blank cheque that they will expect Australians to pay for. That's the Labor Party's policy. On this side of the House the Liberals and the Nationals are working together to ensure that Australia succeeds over the next 30 years in a world economy that is going to be challenged by the world's response to climate change and that is going to have very real impacts in rural and regional communities. We're not oblivious to that like those opposite, who will cavalierly go and commit Australia to all sorts of things without thinking through the consequences. We are thinking through the plans that are necessary not only to protect jobs in this country from the challenges that are coming but also to secure the opportunities. Our policies aren't about shutting anything down but opening up new opportunities. Those opposite would seek to impose choices on Australians. We're going to let Australians make their own choices. We're going to ensure that we keep the lights on and prices down.

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