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

I thank Senator McEwen for her question. Senator McEwen, like all senators on this side, understands the environmental and economic challenge that climate change presents. She understands that Australia is particularly vulnerable to climate change and that, unless we act now, climate change could be catastrophic for Australia and for the world. It will seriously hurt the Australian economy and will cost jobs. Those of us on this side of the chamber understand that the economic costs of inaction are far greater than the costs of responsible action now. Those of us on this side of the chamber understand that this is a challenge for this generation—an economic challenge to which this nation has to rise. We understand that this is all about preparing this nation for future challenges.

Today I released Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts, which shows that Australia’s emissions for 2006 and preliminary estimates of emissions in 2007 remain on track to meet our Kyoto target.