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

The government is pressing ahead with pricing carbon for the same reason Prime Minister Howard did: it is the cheapest way to reduce emissions to get to the target that you also signed up to. We both want to reduce emissions. The difference is that we have a sensible policy; you have a taxpayer funded bureaucratic process that is about picking winners. It will not work and it will be more expensive. That is the difference. If Senator Cormann really cared about Western Australian families he might like to tell the 280,000 pensioners in Western Australia who will receive an extra $338 per year—and up to $510 if they are couples—why he wants to claw back that increase. Let us remember we have an assistance package, you don't. You will have to go to the next election saying that you stand for cuts to pensions in Western Australia, Senator Cormann. That is your policy. (Time expired)