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

Let us be clear about what is being proposed on the other side. What is being proposed on the other side is that it is good for this country to delay further on climate change. After 10 years in government, when those on the other side failed to act on this issue, they are now proposing yet further delay—and further delay in the signal to investors when we know what we need is to give that investment certainty so we can start that transformation process.

I would invite those opposite to consider also the comments of Todd Stern, who I think has made some very interesting comments on this front. Also, across the Tasman, Prime Minister Key was asked, also on 6 August, about the signal that it would send to the world: ‘Do you think it is important?’ This was in relation to the emissions trading scheme. Prime Minister Key said: ‘I think it helps. It shows that you are serious.’ Of course it is well known that— (Time expired)