Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Hogg for that question. The government is very concerned that playing cheap, short-term politics when it comes to climate change may end up being very expensive for Australian business, Australian workers and Australian families. Business needs a stable policy environment to make secure investments and provide secure jobs. That is why the government has made its intentions on climate change absolutely clear. It is essential that we give business and the community the certainty that they need. We have heard from Senator Abetz on this issue. We know that the climate change deniers opposite will never provide that certainty. The opposition environment spokesman says, for instance, that they will make up their minds on emissions trading ‘in due course’. So, I ask: what does it mean? What can that possibly mean? Does it mean in 11 years? That is how long it took for them to admit that climate change was in fact an issue. And Senator Minchin remains unconvinced on that point. Senator Johnston and the member for Tangney want to stall the introduction of the emissions-trading scheme indefinitely—that is if the Australian of this morning can be believed—and they have clearly decided it is time for what they call a little ‘push-back’ on climate change. The whole question is being hijacked on the other side by the show ponies and the headline hunters.

Last week the opposition passed the government’s proposal to make capital expenditure on carbon sink forests tax-deductible. Senator Coonan was gracious enough to say, ‘We are pleased to support that measure.’