Kay Elson (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is also addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Would the minister update the House on the progress of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate? Are there any alternative views addressing climate change?

Alexander Downer (Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Forde for her question and for her interest. As I have told the House before, when I participated in the launch of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate I did so with a number of my colleagues—the Prime Minister himself participated in the opening ceremony—and it brought together ministers from Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States as well as leaders from business and industry.

The Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, which is known as AP6, established a policy implementation committee and task forces. They are ready to implement the ambitious work plans of the AP6. The committee and task forces will begin their first substantial meetings in the United States during next month. The task forces will, for example, identify major flagship projects to demonstrate breakthrough climate technologies, and Australia will be sending about 45 delegates to this meeting, mostly from industry.

AP6 is a groundbreaking approach to addressing climate change that involves countries representing 50 per cent of the world’s emissions, 50 per cent of the world’s GDP and about 50 per cent of the world’s population. It focuses on practical action. The point is that it brings together countries like the United States, China and India, and that is of course crucially important if this issue is to be seriously addressed.

Are there any alternative views? We have heard from a Labour leader over the last two days a very realistic approach, I think, to the whole issue of climate change. Prime Minister Blair has said, ‘The fact that we have a forum where people like Australia and the United States—

Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Public Accountability and Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Kelvin Thomson interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Wills.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What did he say about Kyoto?

Alexander Downer (Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is appalling shouting, Mr Speaker. Manners, manners! Prime Minister Blair said, ‘The fact that we have a forum where people like Australia and the United States sit down with China and India is a very positive change.’

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about Kyoto?

Alexander Downer (Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He went on to say:

... we need also to look to the future now ... There will be no agreement worth having that does not involve the United States, China and India ...

I could not agree more with that. One of the numerous shouted interjections I have heard is, ‘What about Kyoto?’ Mr Blair said that Kyoto is not enough. He said, ‘We need to cut greenhouse gas emissions radically—

Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Public Accountability and Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Kelvin Thomson interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Wills is warned!

Alexander Downer (Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

but Kyoto won’t even stabilise them.’ Of course, that is a point we have been making. We do need a dose of realism in this debate. The honourable member for Grayndler described the AP6 initiative as ‘nothing but spin’, and it has been continually criticised and opposed by the Labor Party. I can only say that AP6 is a fine initiative which is well supported around the world.