Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

I do not know where Senator Wong has been for 10 years. This government accepted 10 years ago the reality of climate change and the need to do something about it. We established the world’s first greenhouse gas office and we have spent some $2 billion over that period in greenhouse gas abatement endeavours. Our policies will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by some 87 million tonnes per annum by 2010. Our record is good; our record is clear. We will pursue policies which are practical and sensible and will not destroy jobs. We are not going to go down the path of shutting off the coal industry, like you lot want; we are going to do things that will reduce emissions in a cost-effective fashion and not destroy Australian jobs.