Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

I indicate to the senator that we agree with the recommendation of that task force that the renewable energy targets will increase energy prices for all Australians in a way that would help ambush the economy and also the pockets of every single Australian and, most importantly, our manufacturing sector, which Mr Rudd pretends to champion. This is a great lesson for the Australian Labor Party: you cannot just pick policies because they sound good; they actually have flow-on consequences. The Labor policy on renewable energy targets would be very damaging to the manufacturing sector and to every single energy consumer within this country.

We have said consistently that we will take a good, sensible approach to these matters, as witnessed by the fact that we established the Australian Greenhouse Office some 10 years ago. We are continuing with good, sound investment in the renewable energy sector, such as the solar city policy and the rebate and assistance for homeowners that even the hapless Mr Garrett did not quite understand when he sought to ask my colleague Mr Turnbull a question in the parliament a couple of weeks ago. We have a comprehensive policy that is based on rigour and robustness and not cheap slogans that are an attempt to get Australian Greens preferences.