Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Will Australia's annual carbon emissions in 2020 be higher or lower than this year?

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am delighted to take this question, because what we have just released today is a categorical, definitive statement from the Department of the Environment that our emissions in 2020 will see us achieve and beat our minus five per cent target. Let me make this point: when we came to government there was a gap of 755 million tonnes that you let—

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

The member for Parramatta will cease interjecting. I remind her that she has been warned. It is her final warning.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The point of order is relevance. The question was very straightforward: will Australia's annual carbon emissions in 2020 be higher or lower than this year? A very plain question.

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

The minister is in order.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The expectation is absolutely clear. It was determined by the department today that we will meet and beat our five per cent target. Let me make this point: they are relying on a report from a particular organisation, and this organisation has made three predictions. Two years ago they said we had a gap of 500 million tonnes. Today, categorically and without doubt, we are meeting, beating and sub zero. We go to Paris to meet and beat our targets. Secondly, we have not just closed that 500 million tonne gap; we have closed a 755 million tonne gap. Thirdly, the organisation in question from which they quote said that we would have nine million tonnes, at the very best, of abatement under the Emissions Reduction Fund. And do you know what? It was out by 500 per cent. We produced 47 million tonnes in the first auction and 45 million tonnes in the second auction—92 million tonnes over the two, at an average price of $13.12.

Mr Conroy interjecting—

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

The member for Charlton is warned!

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They could not have been more wrong in the sources which they now cite. This opposition predicted that we would not ever achieve our targets. They were wrong. What we are seeing is that each year we are getting lower and lower in our emissions compared with the expectations. We are going to meet and beat our targets. My expectation is that we will not just meet our five per cent and your five per cent target that we inherited from you, or minus 13 per cent; we will go further than we have today. So, when we came in, we inherited 755 million tonnes of gap. Then it came down to 421 million, then to 236 million and, as of today, Australia is officially below our targets and our projections. So we will achieve our targets. We are reducing emissions. We have just had the lowest quarterly emissions in Australia's history over the last decade and more.

Mr Perrett interjecting—

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

The member for Moreton is warned!

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So each successive set of accounts says that we are achieving and beating our emissions.