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

What an honour it is to follow on from that very poor, lacklustre performance! I am really disappointed in Senator Ronaldson because even in estimates he is far more theatrical than he was here today. I have to say that his really poor defence of the Leader of the Opposition, who appeared and spoke in front of that rally yesterday, was a clear indication that Malcolm is not far away.

We as a government know that the community have concerns about a carbon price, but we have undertaken to attack pollution and what it is doing to our climate. People have a right to express their concerns. To think that the Leader of the Opposition would put himself before the Australian people as the alternate Prime Minister is beyond understanding or comprehension. Standing in front of those banners yesterday clearly demonstrated that the Leader of the Opposition is unfit to be Prime Minister of this country. And as for the weak attempt to apologise this morning, that was a little bit too late and not a very good attempt.

Let us get back to some of the other issues in relation to climate change. Those opposite are already on the public record as being an opposition for opposition’s sake: they oppose everything. We know that their policy shifts, we know that the Leader of the Opposition cannot stick to one area of policy in relation to climate change, we know he is a sceptic and we know those opposite do not believe in climate change, but there is very clear scientific evidence to state the contrary to that.

The government have already put on the record that with a carbon price there will be compensation; we will be generous to Australian households and families. For those opposite to come in here and hypocritically show some heartfelt concern for Australian working families is almost hysterical. We know their history, we know their policy and we know they were in government for 11½ very long years and that they did nothing. Since those times they have shifted their policy and their position to where they are now—that is, an opposition for opposition’s sake. We will be generous, as I said, in protecting Australian families. We will also protect jobs as businesses make the transition to a clean energy economy. We will invest to ensure these climate change programs will be explained to the Australian community, so that there is an understanding within the community of how important it is for this government to take action to address climate change.

If we go to some of the comments that Senator Ronaldson made in relation to the Productivity Commission, we will see that Mr Banks in his recent speech concluded that while we may not be able to deliver everything that some people expect:

I am confident the study will shed much light on what other countries are doing, how the various policies work, the uncertainties surrounding the efficacy of many of them, how much they achieve and at what cost.

We on this side of the chamber look forward to seeing the final report, which will be handed down in May.

The government have made it very clear that the final decisions associated with this carbon price will be taken in consultation with the community, so that the community and business have an understanding. We have also put on the record that we will compensate low-income families and pensioners, but those opposite have already said that they will take away those benefits, that they will take away any tax cuts for those people. For opposition to then come into this chamber and talk about the so-called effects that might have an impact on people’s superannuation—the same opposition that attacked working-class families, brought in Work Choices when they were in government and have always voted down any increase to Australian workers’ superannuation contributions—is mighty hypocritical for them to lecture us when we are prepared to take action on climate change. (Time expired)