Teresa Gambaro (Brisbane, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to add my congratulations to your elevation to the chair, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the response to the government's plan to reduce Australia's carbon emissions and how will this plan help the environment while protecting jobs and growth?

Mr Perrett interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the Prime Minister. The member on my left will not interject.

A government member: You are a class act, Graham.

Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If members would stop interjecting, the Prime Minister can answer the question he has been asked.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can assure the House that as far as the government is concerned, climate change is real. Mankind makes a contribution, and it is important to have strong and effective action to deal with it. This government has a very strong record when it comes to reducing emissions.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have met and beaten our Kyoto targets; we are on track to more than meet our current commitments to reduce our emissions by 13 per cent on 2005 levels. We are on track to meet and beat our current commitments to reduce emissions by 2020 by 13 per cent on 2005 levels.

Yesterday we announced our targets for 2030 to take to the Paris conference at the end of the year. We will reduce our emissions by 26 to 28 per cent. This is a very strong and responsible target; it is environmentally responsible; it is economically responsible. It is better than Japan; it is much better than Korea; and it is vastly better than China. It is better than Japan's 25 per cent; it is much better than Korea's four per cent; and, of course, it is vastly better than China, which will actually increase its emissions by 150 per cent by 2030. Yes, it is a whisker below Canada and New Zealand; it is a little below the European level, but, unlike Europe, this country is growing strongly both economically and in terms of population. We will reduce our emissions per person by 50 per cent at least by 2030. This is the best outcome of any country that has so far said what its targets will be for the end of the year. The costs are not insignificant but they are manageable. Unlike members opposite, who want to clobber our economy with a $200 a tonne carbon tax and who want an $85 billion—

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume his seat.

Pat Conroy (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order—relevance. The question was about his dog of a policy, not any other policy.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Charlton is using offensive language. He will withdraw that immediately.

Pat Conroy (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will withdraw it in a qualified way.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He will withdraw in an unqualified way.

Pat Conroy (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw unqualified.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said yesterday—

Mr Sukkar interjecting—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Deakin should withdraw.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did not hear what the member for Deakin said. The member for Deakin, if you made an offensive remark, could you withdraw it, please?

Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have taken the point of order. I ruled on this yesterday and I will make a statement at the end of the Prime Minister's answer.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said:

Australia's position for global climate talks later this year is a reasonable one that balances the need for action to contain emissions with the need to minimise damage to jobs and economic growth.

The Minerals Council of Australia said:

The national emissions target…is an ambitious goal.

It is, Mr Speaker, and we will achieve it.