Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science and the Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change. Why is it important that both the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and the Renewable Energy Target legislation pass the Senate? Why is consistency important in policy?

Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Isaacs for his question. Last night in the House the government’s renewable energy legislation was passed, and that was an extremely important development. The opposition was endeavouring to take a more constructive approach to that legislation—which was welcome—and to appear more constructive on environment issues. Indeed, it was endeavouring to demonstrate that there is some concern on that side about the issue of climate change. However, a fundamental test in this matter is to see this legislation successfully passed through the Senate into law so that the government can pursue and implement the target of 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity supply coming from renewable sources by 2020. Interestingly, however, it appears that even this issue is not so simple on the coalition side of politics, because there are reports that there was vigorous debate about the approach of the coalition in the party room discussion today. We are happy to see the member for Flinders making it into the chamber safely this afternoon, as we understand that there was a fair bit of anger directed towards the shadow minister on this issue, the approach to be taken—

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Not too threatening. The important thing here is that this country needs to take action on both fronts: on establishing the renewable energy target legislation and on reducing our greenhouse gas emissions through the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. We need consistency in national public policy making on these important issues. It is not enough to be in this place and to support, or not to oppose, the renewable energy target legislation. But, on the other side of the equation—we can all feel good about solar energy and geothermal and wind and wave power, and support the renewable energy target—the real test is the establishment of the carbon price in this economy.

It is the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme that is going to make the contribution to shift investment away from higher-polluting industries into lower pollution forms of energy generation. The renewable energy target on its own will not achieve the billions of dollars of investment that this country needs in renewable energy sources or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. We need both institutional changes in our economy to secure this important change in the battle against climate change. We need a consistent approach in policymaking, and we need consistency from the opposition side of politics on this issue. It is critical not just to support the renewable energy legislation but also to support the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme legislation.

There has been too much walking on both sides of the street in national politics from the coalition on a number of key issues. There is an interesting interview in relation to this approach of having it a bit both ways from the doors of Parliament House this morning. The member for Cowan was interviewed at the doors this morning in relation to the stimulus package, and the interview is symptomatic of the approach we see from the coalition in dealing with key policy issues. They come in here, vote against the stimulus package, go out there and say it is good. The member for Cowan was asked the following by a journalist at the doors: ‘But do you believe stimulus has helped Australia out of recession?’ The member for Cowan responded, ‘Well, with that, there has been a lot of money’—

Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order with respect to relevance. What has that possibly got to do with the minister’s response to the question? What has that possibly got to do with it?

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, the member can make his point of order; he cannot then proceed to debate it.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Well, maybe in some eyes; maybe not in other eyes. The question went on to ask: why is it important to have consistency in policymaking?

Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The response by the member for Cowan to the question about the effect of the stimulus was the following: ‘Well, with that, there has been a lot of money pumped in and people have spent it. There’s no doubt about that. I have been to local retailers in my area, and they say that people over in Western Australia have been spending. They’ve been spending for a long time now, even recently.’ So the journalist asked: ‘So Kevin Rudd can claim a bit of the credit for keeping us out of recession?’ The member for Cowan went on to respond as follows: ‘Well’—

Luke Simpkins (Cowan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will resume his seat. I simply say that, if the member is rising to say that he has been in some way misrepresented, he has an opportunity at another stage in proceedings to deal with that matter.

Luke Simpkins (Cowan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He should stick to the answer.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Has the member a point of order?

Luke Simpkins (Cowan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order on relevance. What the minister just said then is nothing of what I said.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Cowan will resume his seat. The minister is responding to his question. The minister has the call, and he will start to conclude his answer.

Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Cowan in fact went on to say this in response to the question: ‘Well, money into the economy is obviously—people do actually spend money, and so there has been some consumer reaction out of that.’ The member for Cowan, along with other members of the opposition, of course, thinks it is fine to come in here and vote against the stimulus package, which is having demonstrable positive economic and employment effects, but to go out into the community and adopt an entirely different position. Consistency in politics is extremely important. You cannot, on the issue of climate change, say or present the impression that you support one leg of the institutional changes that are necessary—that is, the renewable energy target—but at the same time never get your act together to present a positive policy position on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and bringing a carbon price into this economy.

This is the most significant reform that any government has ever endeavoured to undertake, in the face of one of the greatest challenges that we face, and you cannot produce a policy. The time is coming when the coalition is going to have to overcome the divisions within its ranks, overcome the scepticism about the climate—and the member for North Sydney is not here at the moment. He is fairly typical of the inconsistency as well, Mr Speaker.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will conclude his answer.

Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for North Sydney is on the record as questioning whether human activity is contributing to global warming but on the other hand is out there saying you have to give the planet the benefit of the doubt. You cannot be a sceptic on the one hand and get in touch with your green side on the other; you have to have a consistent position. It is time, in the national interest, that the coalition side of politics got their act together. The time is coming when you will have to take responsibility, come forward, put forward your specific policy positions in relation to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and stand up for the national interest.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.