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

The government’s view is that we need to start reducing our emissions and we do that through passage of legislation which for the first time will set a limit on and reduce Australia’s carbon pollution. I note that the Greens’ view appears to be that if the target is not what we want to be we would rather have Australia’s emissions rise. That appears to be the position of the Greens—if we do not commit to a 40 per cent reduction then the Greens would rather see Australia’s carbon emissions rise than fall with us starting the work that we need to do. I do not believe that is a responsible position to take. I do not believe that is responsible for Australia. I do not believe it is responsible for the climate.