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

Thank you, Mr President. It is disappointing that people who call themselves Liberals are so illiberal when it comes to scientists in this debate. We on this side recognise that climate scientists around the world are telling politicians that carbon pollution is causing climate change. We accept the climate science. I would remind Senator Joyce that, globally, 2010 was the warmest year on record. For his information, it tied with 2005 and 1998, with the decade 2001 to 2010 being the warmest decade on record. The year 2010 was the 34th consecutive year with global temperatures above the 20th century average. Senator Joyce and those opposite might like to dismiss these figures; they might wish simply to say that scientists ought not to be believed. We on this side of the chamber do not believe that that is a responsible act. It is not responsible for elected members of parliament and senators— (Time expired)