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

The progress that is required is for various senators in this chamber to understand the risks that climate change poses. What is required is for people to look to the national interest and not their party interest, because failing to act today is the riskiest course of action open to the parliament. Failing to act today is a roll of the dice with our children’s future. We are asking our colleagues to take action for the future, to take action for our children and for our grandchildren, to take action to protect the Australian economy, to take action to protect Australian jobs and to act for the future and not for the past—to act for our children. This day has been 10 long years in the making—10 long years where the tough decisions have been ducked and where the challenges of today were simply buck passed to the leaders of tomorrow. It is time for no more buck passing: now is the time to act.