Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

As I am sure all those opposite and those listening are aware, in the past 12 months the world has faced a very difficult global recession, the likes of which we have not seen for some 75 years. But of course that is not the only major issue that this Rudd Labor government is focused on. The physical climate of our globe has been worsening. Indeed, the climate has been worsening for a number of years. I do not think there is any sector in Australia, including the primary industry sector and the farming sector, that does not recognise that. Farmers in particular recognise the impacts of climate and have to deal with the impacts of climate in this world. They are vulnerable to the impact of climate change. They are faced with drier climates, more severe storms and shifts in distribution of weeds, pests and plant diseases. There is no doubt that farmers in our community well understand the effects of climate change.