Laura Smyth (La Trobe, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The member for La Trobe will resume her seat. We will proceed when the House comes to order.

Laura Smyth (La Trobe, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. How has the government’s plan to take action on climate change been received? Why is it important that debates on major policy challenges such as climate change be based on sound judgment and leadership? Is the minister aware of recent commentary on these issues and what is the government’s response?

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

I thank the member for La Trobe for her question. The government respects the climate science and the need to cut our pollution. Today, like a number of members of the House, I had a meeting with representatives of Climate Scientists Australia who reiterated to me, as they have done to many others today, the need to take action on climate change. They were in the building today because a forum was organised by the members for Chisholm, Moore and Melbourne on climate science for the benefit of parliamentarians. I am very pleased that members from both sides of the House attended that forum. However, there are others who obviously contest the science and oppose action being taken on climate change.

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

Will we move to name calling now?

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

The member for Cowan will leave the chamber for one hour under standing order 94(a).

The member for Cowan then left the chamber

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

At the rally at Parliament House yesterday, which the Leader of the Opposition had encouraged as part of the people’s revolt, the following sentiments were expressed on placards held by the protesters on the issue of the science: ‘Carbon really ain’t pollution’, ‘No carbon tax, reject junk science’, ‘Carbon dioxide is not pollution, I love CO2’, ‘Say no to carbon tax 4 UN/IMF global governance=agenda 21 genocide’. As we saw on television last night, there was much worse.

The so-called people’s revolt against carbon pricing has also attracted, as we have heard, supporters such as One Nation, Pauline Hanson, the League of Rights and a number of climate change sceptics. It is important for leaders of the community, and particularly the leaders of major political parties, to not be associated with extremes in the debate over carbon pricing.

Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Ruddock interjecting

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

The member for Berowra is warned.

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

Not only has the Leader of the Opposition refused to clearly to dissociate himself from these groups but last night on ABC TV he said, ‘That was a representative snapshot of middle Australia.’ Well, you must be kidding. I am sure that there would be many on the opposite benches that did not find it representative of their own views or of the values and traditions of the Liberal Party either. The fact is that it was not befitting someone who wants to be leader of our nation. It goes to character and judgment as well as the ability to provide true leadership on an important public policy question.

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Frydenberg interjecting

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

Order! The member for Kooyong is warned. In warning the member for Kooyong, I remind people that it is the first step, under standing order 94, for future naming followed by the practices of the House that some, I understand, were not aware of yesterday.

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

All of this is important in this debate because what we have seen from the Leader of the Opposition is lots of aggression and not much courage when it really counts.

It is worthwhile reflecting on the words of Prime Minister, John Howard, to the Melbourne Press Club on 17 July 2007, when explaining the need to act on climate change through an emissions trading scheme because these are in the tradition of the Liberal Party. He said:

Australia brings formidable assets to this challenge: an educated, can-do and adaptable people a modern; flexible economy; world class scientific expertise; deep global engagement and an enviable reputation for institution-building and reform … No great challenge has ever yielded to fear or guilt. Nor will this one.

I could not agree with it more.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table the Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency’s statement, Shades of Goebbels in ‘truth campaign’, currently available on the ALP’s website.

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

The member for Flinders, I think, was either warned or amongst those warned that I would not give the opportunity during question time to people outside the questioner to table documents. I think that warning is sufficiently understood that he will know that I now invite him to leave the chamber for one hour under standing order 94(a). For those that shake their heads, I cannot prevent stunts but I can deal with them.

The member for Flinders then left the chamber