Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

My question is directed to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources. Does the minister recall the claims made last year by the Prime Minister that any attempt to make significant cuts to our carbon emissions would cripple our economy and cut wages by 20 per cent? Does the minister also recall the claims made by the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Mr Macfarlane, that it would be economic folly to establish a national carbon emissions trading scheme? Has not the Prime Minister this week, after a rather recent and sudden conversion to ‘climate change realist’, now admitted that Australia needs a carbon trading scheme as part of measures to make significant cuts to our emissions? Does the minister still agree with last year’s assessment by the government that carbon trading was economic folly and a threat to wages and, if not, what has changed?