Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

I am interested that Senator Cormann has asked me about taxing petrol, because I was surprised to find his comments in the chamber, in September 2007, where he said of Mr Howard's emissions trading scheme: 'This will be the most comprehensive ETS, in the world, broader in coverage than any scheme currently operating anywhere; a world-leading scheme to cover 70 to 75 per cent of total emissions. By including large emitters alone, the scheme would cover 55 per cent of total emissions; however'—and this is the best bit, Mr President—'by including transport and other fuels the coverage of the scheme is significantly increased.' So Senator Cormann used to back an ETS which covered petrol.

What happened? Senator Cormann used to come into this chamber and say, 'Yes, we are going to have a great scheme.' and: 'We would have had a great scheme under Mr Howard. We would have had a scheme that covered 70 to 75 per cent of total emissions, including transport and other fuels.' So when Senator Cormann stands up in here and tries to play a bit of politics with the carbon price, one might recall that in this chamber he previously supported an emissions trading scheme with wide coverage, including transport and other fuels. People can judge the legitimacy of his question knowing that background.

Honourable senators interjecting—