Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Resources. Minister, how will the safeguard mechanism bring certainty to the resource sector? And are there any threats to this certainty?

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Lingiari for her question, and for her commitment to the resources sector. I am asked by her about certainty in that sector and threats to it.

For 10 long years, as you know, Mr Speaker, our resources sector was consistently let down by the former government, now those opposite. Those opposite denied climate change and any action on it. And what did they fail to do? They failed to realise that Australia's resources sector is absolutely essential to Australia reaching—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There minister will pause for a moment. I cannot hear a word she is saying.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Lucky you!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Opposition! I give the call to the minister, and I ask her to be relevant to the question.

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, those opposite, when in government, failed to realise that Australia's resources sector will be essential to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, and not only for Australia but for the world. Without the resources sector in this country, the world will not reach a global ambition of net zero emissions by 2050.

Now, I'm asked about the threat to certainty in this sector. Well, it lies opposite—there it is. Such is their disregard for the resources sector that they shuffled the resources minister out of cabinet. This is the largest export industry of this country, and they shuffled the minister out of there so the member for New England could get a promotion and a couple of extra staff. What a legacy! What a legacy for you guys!

We remember everyone else's legacy in this House as well, don't we? We remember what the Greens did in 2009, when they failed to support the CPRS. What they did was: they teamed up with the Liberals and the Nationals opposite to make sure there was no action on climate change, nearly 13 years ago. So, all of those opposite—and I take the crossbenchers out of that—that is your legacy and the uncertainty you bring to the resources sector in this country. You are driving yourselves into the past, reigniting the climate wars. The people of this country elected this government earlier, last year, because they wanted an end to the uncertainty you've created for the whole nation, for our economy and for our resources sector.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals is warned.

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will ask—

Okay—thanks very much, Leader of the Nationals. What does Woodside say about this scheme?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals is warned.

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What do they say about reform to the safeguard mechanism? Well, they say it will:

… support a reduction in Australian emissions, as well as encourage businesses and industries to further innovate and adopt smarter practices and technologies in line with our collective emissions reduction targets.

Look, they only employ 5,000 people—what would they know! But this is what they support.

Everyone is accountable in this place—just like the 215 high emitters will be accountable for reducing their emissions under the safeguard mechanism. Everyone is accountable. You're going to be accountable for your vote—those opposite, pardon me, Mr Speaker, are going to be accountable for their vote on the safeguard mechanism, as are the Greens. We know this is how we will deliver low emissions and a cleaner— (Time expired)

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There is far too much noise. Members on my right, banging on desks is highly disorderly.

Opposition members interjecting—

Order! Members on my left.

Honourable members interjecting—

When the House comes to order and when there is complete silence—I want to hear every word from the member for Kennedy, and I give him the call.