Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Troeth has misunderstood the nature of the scheme. What we have indicated is that every cent raised as a result of this scheme will be redistributed to assist this country adapt to a carbon constrained world, whether it be to households or industry. We are in the business of ensuring that Australian industry remains competitive and, by doing so, is able to transform itself in such a way as to be able to deal with the challenges that every business in this country has to face up to. It is foolish and incredibly short-sighted to believe that we can persist with business-as-usual approaches to the issues of climate change. What is required is for us to engage with business in such a way as to enable every firm in this country—every business, every enterprise in this country—to adjust to the circumstances that we are facing in the contemporary environment. That is exactly what this government is doing. We are engaging with manufacturers; we are engaging with all other aspects of the economy. (Time expired)