Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to rise to concur and note that the coalition will be supporting the government on this issue in a sense of bipartisanship and a sense that we have the capacity to work together to bring about effective government. Despite the illusion that so many people try to dispel, that we always say no, this is yet another example of where we say yes. Support for this type of legislation, the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (National Regulator) Bill 2011 and related bills, shows the capacity of the government and opposition to work together. I know Senator Eggleston will be having something to say on this.

It is interesting to note at this point in time how issues such as this get through because they are competent, they are logical and they move forward. Yet on other issues such as the carbon tax, which is completely illogical, we have every reason to oppose it. It is amazing that in our nation on a day like today, where we see Moody's downgrading the French banks, with all the uncertainty in the world, we have the juxtaposition of two different issues. One is the export of a product to try and bring strength to the Australian economy, to protect the Australian economy, to keep it vibrant and to extend our capacity to earn money. That is one thing we should be supporting.

But in the other place, on its way here, is another piece of legislation that in a time of absolute global uncertainty takes us down the perilous, stupid and culpable path of bringing in a carbon tax. It will completely pull the economic rug out from underneath Australia and lead us down the path of so-called green jobs. What we have here in this legislation is assistance for real jobs so people can earn real money to keep our nation strong, as it should be in this time. What the carbon tax will do is send us down the tube.