Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is again to the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. Did Australia's annual total carbon emissions rise in the year to December 2016?

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm delighted to take questions from the member for Port Adelaide, because he absolutely refused to answer any questions on his policy during the election campaign—and the member for Maribyrnong wasn't much better. I already answered this question in the previous answer, but I can tell you that in 2013—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

I will just say to the minister again: the question was very specific, and it referred to a particular year. I'll hear the minister but he's got to be mindful that he has to be directly relevant to the question.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In 2013, the Climate Change Authority forecast that the emissions in 2018 would be around 680 million tonnes. In fact, they are at 534 million tonnes. What's happened is worthy of explanation—

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

Before I called the Leader of the Opposition on a point of order, I wanted to hear the minister. I was worried he was straying. I think the point—

Mr Rob Mitchell interjecting—

If you as Second Deputy Speaker of all people in this chamber think it's appropriate to interject on me, you are going to spend a lot of time out of the chamber in this parliament. No, you're not going to wave your hands. People get thrown out under 94(a). I'm saying to the Second Deputy Speaker: you have special responsibilities in that role. I regret I have to say that, but I feel I have no choice anymore. I will hear the Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.

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

We have asked very specific questions today about whether total carbon emissions have gone up. This question is about 2016. We have previously asked about 2017 and 2018. We are trying to keep it pretty tight. We can't be tighter than this. We expect an answer. Either they are going up or they're going down.

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

It is a very tight question. That's why I wanted to make that point to the minister. He needs to relate his material to 2016, I'm afraid. I will hear from the Leader of the House on a point of order.

Opposition members interjecting—

Members on my left, we are not going to have a situation where I patiently listen to points of order from your side and then somehow you have some sort of chorus volume that means I can't listen to them from the other side. The Leader of the House is entitled to the call and he has the call.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Questions with respect to an increase have to be off a base. The base wasn't stipulated in the question. So looking at estimates of that year must be relevant to the answer.

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

I am going to keep hearing the minister on this. That way I can judge how relevant he is being. Does the Leader of the Opposition wish to speak to the point of order?

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

Yes, thank you. 'Annual increase' means 31 December to 31 December. It is pretty tight. It is 2016. Every year is the same—365 days—except for every four years, when there is an extra day.

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

Leader of the Opposition, you don't get an extra—

Honourable members interjecting—

Members on both sides! I am going to hear the minister and I am going to judge whether he's being relevant to the question.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, emissions in that year were over 100 million tonnes below what was forecast by the Climate Change Authority in 2013. It is true, from year to year and quarter to quarter, emissions go up and down. That's what happens. But let me tell you something: when we take account of the record LNG—

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

No, I'll ask the minister to resume his seat. We are going to the next question.