Jerome Laxale (Bennelong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In May 2022, Bennelong went to the ballot box and left a clear message: they wanted a government that would finally take action on climate change. After 15 years of the Liberals' climate chaos, they finally have that government. In 18 months, we have shown we are a government that has taken this mandate seriously. Last week's climate change statement delivered by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy shows that we are on track to achieve our legislated 43 per cent emissions reduction target. We are delivering more renewable energy and community batteries, we are helping people get into electric vehicles and we are helping households across the country electrify.

We all know the work is not done. Calls for further action are consistent, and, in my view, they are justified. We need to be bold, and we need to keep pushing for more climate action. As the minister said last week, Labor's plan is ambitious and achievable but, thank goodness, we are the ones in government, because the Liberals oppose renewable energy, but we on this side back renewable energy. The Liberals push for a nuclear energy fantasy, but on this side, we are investing in new low-emissions generation that will actually deliver new power into the grid.

As we look to 2024, here is my prediction: it will be the Liberals who will continue to ignore that Australia voted for climate action, whereas we on this side will keep pushing for more—and thank goodness for that.