Julian McGauran (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I will not be intimidated, nor will anyone else from this side, from speaking on the issue of the week that they have not addressed well at all—and, again, that probably explains why they are trying to get out of here as quickly as they can—climate change.

My intention in raising this issue, if the other side can just hear me out, is just to walk through the science of it calmly and quietly, because we have to bring credibility and honesty to this issue so that we can have a rigorous debate. For so long, the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong—once dubbed ‘the high priestess of climate change’ by Senator Bushby, who is in the chamber—has taken absolutely extremist positions. She was always pointing the figure at this side, calling us a bunch of sceptics and a bunch of know-nothings, but the point is that the whole tide, particularly over the summer, has turned against the government. They have got problems and Senator Wong has got problems.

What really prompted me to jump up was that on Wednesday we had a debate on a matter of public importance. For those listening on radio, this is a very crucial and important debate that we have in the Senate from time to time. It is rigorous and it is an exchange of policy based on research where credibility is expected from those in the debate. It is expected in any debate, but particularly in that debate, which is very focused on the issue of the day. I listened to that debate intently. I heard the presenters from the other side. They were Senator Cameron—I say that with an emphasis because we all know what Senator Cameron is like in any debate—