Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Obviously, our colleagues in the Greens know the National Party’s position on this issue. We have a strong belief that an emissions target delivered by this government will have no effect on the global climate. Calling on the government to commit to targets that deliver real action will, I think, also have huge effects on many regional economies and would mean the decimation of everything from coal, to beef through to sheep. How that transpires will be reflected in the grocery bills of so many Australian working families. At this point in time, we are talking about a gesture that will deliver nothing in terms of bringing about an outcome that will change the globe. There is not one person who believes that something done solely by Australia will change the temperature of the globe; therefore, as a gesture, it will be no more effective than were we to all parade outside right now and apologise to the clouds. Although we do not wish to divide on this motion, we want to clearly put our intentions before the Senate. We do not support it.

Question agreed to.