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

As I said in my answer to Senator Evans, this government has a focus on the national interest in ensuring that, as we address the evolving science on climate change and evolving international responses to climate change, we keep an eye to Australia’s national interest, something the Labor Party seems to have forgotten with its environment spokesman running around saying that we have to be shut down the Australian coal industry. We will not do that. We will ensure that, whatever we do in making sure Australia contributes to international efforts to contain greenhouse gas emissions, we preserve the national interest and that we look after Australian workers, unlike the Australian Labor Party, which is all too ready to abandon Australian workers whenever it suits them and when they want Greens preferences. So much of what we hear from the Labor Party is nothing more than a naked grab for Greens preferences in a desperate bid to get over the line. They will abandon the workers like they did in the 2004 election if they think it will get them Greens preferences. That is what we have seen from Mr Garrett in his abandoning of people in the coal industry. The coal industry is a vital industry in this country and one of the biggest export earners we have. We are not going to abandon them simply to chase votes like the Australian Labor Party.

In the meantime, we will take a realistic, pragmatic and sensible approach to this issue. The science on climate change has been evolving. The fact of Australia’s position is that it contributes just over one per cent of the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions that the world emits. Yes, we can make a contribution. Yes, we are leading on many issues in relation to this matter. Yes, we adopted a Kyoto target of 108 per cent which we are going to achieve. We have spent nearly $2 billion to achieve that target. We are proud of our record on this issue. We are not going to abandon Australian workers or risk the foundations of this economy like the Labor Party in a blind chase for Greens preferences.