Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Canberra for her question. On 21 May the Australian people voted for change. They voted to end the division. They voted to end the inaction and finally put the climate wars behind us. They backed our Powering Australia plan. They gave us a mandate for the 43 per cent target. And today we'll deliver on the first step of enshrining this target in law, giving our country the certainty that we need to shape the future.

On the first day that I became Labor leader I said that Australians had conflict fatigue, and on climate, rather than rally the same troops to dig a deeper trench in the same spot, I wanted us to find new allies, and new allies we have found. This is what Jennifer Westacott, the CEO of the Business Council of Australia, has said—that this legislation has 'brought Australia a step closer to ending the climate wars that have put a handbrake on progress and become a serious economic barrier.' She said:

"We welcome this legislation and the adoption of key elements of the Business Council's plan to reach net zero emissions …

"43 per cent is a sensible, achievable target which can be delivered alongside new industries and better jobs with coordinated action …

We thank the government for working with business to deliver a workable plan, reduce emissions and strengthen Australia's economic future."

Remember when the Liberal Party used to have a relationship with business? Remember that? But what we saw today was them isolated and alone, stuck in the same old trench fighting a fight that has passed them by. They were by themselves with their arms crossed, saying, 'No, no, no.' They are the coalition of yesterday and the no-alition of today, saying no to absolutely everything.

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