Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I would first just indicate that Senator Sherry actually represents the minister for finance in this chamber—if Senator Macdonald was not aware of that. The second point I make is that I have outlined, in relation to the savings measures, the ways in which those measures will be funded from alternative programs. Clearly they are savings measures. In relation to the issue of climate change, it is quite extraordinary to those of us on this side of the chamber, who have listened to the sceptics on that side—from the Leader of the Opposition in this chamber down—quibbling about whether or not climate change was occurring and seen them dragged kicking and screaming to addressing this issue prior to the election, that now you come into this place and talk to us about the implementation of climate change programs.