Robert Oakeshott (Lyne, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister—and, with indulgence of the House, I invite the Leader of the Opposition to also answer this question.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I respectfully deny the request. The Leader of the Opposition does not have the opportunity to take the question. The member has the call.

Robert Oakeshott (Lyne, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the Prime Minister and the leader of the other major party, if allowed, confirm for the House today, in a bipartisan way, their personal acknowledgement, acceptance and confidence in the facts and evidence of man-made climate change?

Opposition members interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has the call. I am a bit perplexed that people are groaning at the question. The Prime Minister has the call.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To the member's question, I absolutely confirm to him that I accept the science of climate change. I absolutely confirm to him that I accept that science, as I accept other scientific conclusions. Consequently that means that I understand that carbon pollution, in particular, is making a difference to our climate and so if we are to tackle climate change then we need to tackle carbon pollution in our atmosphere. It is that that has driven the government's policy about carbon pricing, because we believe that the cheapest, most effective way of reducing carbon pollution is by pricing it and we believe in terms of the government's carbon pricing scheme and Renewable Energy Target that the evidence is already in, that it is working to reduce carbon pollution. I absolutely accept the science and do not believe that it is possible for a person of reason to have any other view.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, on a point of order, given the succinctness and the clarity of the Prime Minister's answer, in terms of the timing, we certainly would have no objection to the Leader of the Opposition stating his response.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House will resume his seat. I have an objection under the standing orders. The Leader of the Opposition can make a comment at the end of question time; he cannot during question time.

Mr Windsor interjecting—

Member for New England, that was uncalled for! The member for Lyne has the call.

Robert Oakeshott (Lyne, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, I ask a supplementary question—and, with the indulgence of the House, this can be answered at the end of question time as well. Does the Prime Minister also confirm for both major parties in the House today that there is a shared policy commitment to reach a five per cent reduction in carbon dioxide equivalents by 2020?

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I ask the Prime Minister to answer, she obviously cannot answer on behalf of anybody else. The Prime Minister has the call but can only answer in respect of her own party.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Certainly it is the government's policy that our nation needs to reduce the amount of carbon pollution in our atmosphere by five per cent by 2020. That is why we have enacted carbon pricing. I absolutely accept from the Speaker that it is not for me to speak for other political parties, though I think I can probably say that in the public debate to date it has been viewed as bipartisan policy that we are aiming as a nation for a five per cent reduction in emissions by 2020.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Certainly the government would have no objection to the Leader of the Opposition being granted leave.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House will resume his seat. I have made my views on this under the standing orders very clear. The standing orders make it very clear that the individuals who can answer the questions are those who have responsibility for government initiatives.