Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is again to the Prime Minister and, again, on climate change. Prime Minister, why, after three days in parliament, do you still refuse to repudiate the statement by the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources that he is a sceptic on the connection between carbon emissions and climate change? Has the Prime Minister seen Rio Tinto’s statement that Rio Tinto believes that emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from human activities are contributing to climate change? If Rio Tinto now accepts that there is a connection between carbon emissions and climate change, isn’t it time that you and the industry minister got on board as well?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources is an outstanding representative of the interests of industry and the government. He is widely respected and admired within the resources sector because he understands the importance of that sector. I certainly do not intend to repudiate him; he is a wonderful colleague and he will continue to be a very active member of my government.