Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

And generations thereafter. I hope that I am still going to be in this chamber to ensure that those future generations have those great opportunities, and I am sure my colleague Senator Furner will be here as well. We recognise that climate change will severely impact on the nation, our environment, our lifestyles and our future. It is our duty, it is our responsibility to the Australian people, to ensure that future generations of Australians will thrive in our great country, that they will have the opportunities that we have had. Therefore, we need to act together. We need to act soon and we need to protect our nation. We need to protect our environment and we need to protect our economy.

Since coming to office the Labor government has already acted to reduce our levels of carbon emissions in a number of ways to lessen the impact of climate change. The Gillard Labor government will continue strong support for renewable energy to promote greater energy efficiencies in industry and households and to work towards the introduction of a carbon price. I know that we have great opportunities in renewable energy in my home state of Tasmania.

It is our belief that that the most efficient and cost-effective means to achieve a reduction in our levels of carbon pollution is through placing a price on carbon. Not only will it help our environment but placing a price on carbon is a significant economic reform for our economy and an investment in our long-term future. We can either work on this together as responsible elected representatives of the federal parliament or not. Mr Abbott has already demonstrated that he is only interested in being a wrecker, tearing things down and being negative.