Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. I refer to his comments in this House last week concerning net zero. Did the Deputy Prime Minister yesterday oppose a policy of net zero emissions by 2050?

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for her question. I support 100 per cent our process of going to Glasgow for the target of net zero emissions. I do that because I clearly laid out the process of how the National Party would deliberate over this. I clearly laid out a process that was never given to regional members of the Labor Party. That process, of course, is that our position would not be determined by the executive, it would not be determined by one person; it would be determined by the views of the party members—and yesterday they did precisely that. The position is settled and we're going forward as a coalition government to make sure we do the very best.

It's really important that we've got to that position. I'll tell you why. There is a difference in policies. We believe in technology; they believe in legislation. They believe in laws; we believe in technology. They believe in legislation because legislation outlaws things. And they're going to be the greatest outlaw since Billy the Kid. They're going to outlaw Central Queensland. They're going to outlaw the Hunter Valley. They're going to outlaw the coal industry. They're going to outlaw the miners. They've said they're coming forward with legislation.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is your policy.

Opposition members interjecting—

Oh, you're saying you're not going to legislate it?

Opposition members interjecting—

I'll take the interjection. Are you going to legislate it?

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

I am going to caution the Deputy Prime Minister. We've done this a few times. The Deputy Prime Minister will not ask questions. He will simply bring himself to the question that was asked, which he is already straying from.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the sake of the House and for the sake of the honourable member opposite, the issue is resolved.

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

I seek leave to answer the question asked by the Deputy Prime Minister.

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

You can't seek leave to answer a question. You can seek leave to move a formal motion.

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

I can, actually. Under the standing orders I can seek leave to make a statement to the House—

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

That's better!

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

to answer the question posed by the Deputy Prime Minister on whether we support legislating net zero emissions by 2050.

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

Is leave granted?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the sake of all of us here, no.