House debates

Monday, 25 November 2024

Questions without Notice

Climate Change

2:09 pm

Photo of Sussan LeySussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Labor has refused to announce when it will release its 2035 emissions reduction targets. At COP29—

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy is warned.

An honourable member interjecting

It's a different day but it's the same standard that we are all looking towards, which is no interjections whilst someone is on their feet. The acting Leader of the Opposition will begin her question again.

Photo of Sussan LeySussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Labor has refused to announce when it will release its 2035 emissions reduction target. At COP29, Minister Bowen said, 'Next year, when we bring forward our nationally determined contributions, we must all strengthen efforts and deliver our highest possible ambition.' Why is the Albanese Labor government keeping its target a secret? And can the Prime Minister guarantee that it won't lead to increased energy prices for Australian families?

2:10 pm

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I really do thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for the question. We passed legislation in this House for 43 per cent by 2030, opposed by those opposite, and net zero by 2050, opposed by those opposite. When we passed the 43 per cent by 2030, one of the provisions that was carried with amendments was that the Climate Change Authority had to give us advice about future targets. That is the law. That is the law. It was passed by this parliament; it was passed by both chambers. The Climate Change Authority gives us the advice based upon the science, and then we announce the target based upon the science consistent with getting to net zero by 2050. That's the process.

But for those opposite, who don't have a 2030 target, to actually stand up and say, 'What's your target in 2035'—that is, after 2030—is just extraordinary. The climate change minister will be giving his annual statement—again consistent with the legislation that was carried in this parliament. He will be giving that at the end of this week, but I'll give you a preview. We are on track for achieving the targets that we have established. Not only have we got a target, but we've also told you how we'll get there. We'll get there through the safeguard mechanism, firstly, taking the top emitters—

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order. The Assistant Treasurer will withdraw that remark.

Photo of Stephen JonesStephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Photo of Paul FletcherPaul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | | Hansard source

On relevance. It was a very specific question: can the Prime Minister guarantee it won't lead to increased energy prices for Australian families? If he can't give that guarantee, he should admit it.

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The question contained 'why is the government keeping targets secret'? If the Prime Minister is explaining part of the question about—

The member for O'Connor will leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for O'Connor then left the chamber.

If we're dealing with points of order, particularly from your manager, I would expect you would want to hear that and show respect. The Prime Minister is being directly relevant. He wasn't asked about alternative approaches, he wasn't asked about alternative policies, he hasn't gone into that space. I will listen carefully to make sure he directly relevant, but he couldn't be more directly relevant if he is articulating why the government is pursuing what they're doing.

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

The short answer is I'm complying with the law! That's the short answer. Those opposite don't have a target. We not only have a target of 43 per cent; we've told you how we'll get there. The Safeguard Mechanism on the top emitters is working, and the Capacity Investment Scheme is working even better than we envisaged. We have a plan. We have a process to get to that objective. Those opposite don't have a target for 2030, oppose net zero by 2050 and have a nuclear plan sometime in the 2040s and no idea how you keep reliability of energy supply in the meantime—none. They have no idea, no costings and no plan.