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

I thank Senator Wortley for the question and for her interest in climate change matters. There are, of course, a great number of authoritative sources that can be cited on the issue of climate change. But those opposite might be interested to hear from one authority in particular. That would, of course, be the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Turnbull. It is Mr Turnbull who has said:

… climate change is a fact, not a theory.

He also said that the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ‘confirms that human activity is causing global warming’. The fact is that 13 of the 14 warmest years on record occurred between 1995 and 2008. But, sadly, on this issue Mr Turnbull’s party room still remains a safe haven for the climate change sceptics. He appears to be incapable of showing the strong leadership that is needed and standing up against the sceptics in the party room for what he knows is right. Last night we saw the extraordinary spectacle of a Liberal senator—