Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

This parliament is delivering profound environmental, economic and social reform, and I can understand why the coalition, who oppose that environmental, social and economic reform, are behaving as they are. This provides a platform for a higher level of ambition on climate change because, as I was saying, with a planet with seven billion people and accelerated global warning we need to make sure that the platform we are delivering today has the capacity for upward flexibility so that we can do more. I am confident of the reforms we are moving to establish—the new Climate Change Authority and an 80 per cent target by 2050. We need to accelerate that to net carbon zero, but at least we have the potential to lift our ambition with the trajectory that we have set. We are bringing in an emissions trading scheme and therefore implementing the 'polluter pays' principle; we are establishing the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which will be a massive investment in renewable energy; we are delivering on energy efficiency; and we are also making sure that there is a huge investment in Australia's biodiversity and ecosystems because we all know that our ecosystems are suffering as a result of climate change and overexploitation—no more so than on the Great Barrier Reef, which, right as we speak, is not only subject to global warming and the acidification of the oceans but also subject to degradation because of an insatiable appetite for fossil fuels which we need to get away from.

This is far reaching and transformative. It is being delivered because the people of Australia voted at the last election for a power-sharing parliament.

Opposition senators interjecting—

I know that the coalition cannot cope with that, but this is a power-sharing parliament and, as a result of an agreement with the government, there was an undertaking to deliver a carbon price mechanism in this period of government, which we have done through the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee, on which there were experts and Independents, Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor; from the government, with the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and Minister Combet; and of course from the Greens, with Adam Bandt, the Greens member for Melbourne, Senator Bob Brown, the Leader of the Greens, and me.

As I said, this is the foundation of innovation and transformation. This is our opportunity to rebuild the manufacturing sector in Australia, to diversify our economy and create jobs not only in the cities but right through rural and regional Australia. It is our opportunity to say to our grandchildren that we are at least now trying to take a whole-of-government approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and at last we will be able to stand up in global fora and say that Australia has started the process.

We accept that this is the beginning, but we also know that this legislation will not be repealed. That is why this is so historic. This is the day when Australia changes direction. This is the day when not only has Australia changed direction but also, with the psychological shift, business engagement and the innovation and the opportunity that is going to come from this, the coalition is on the back foot here. Its leader, Mr Abbott, has cut and run and headed to London for a meeting he does not have to be at for two days. He could have flown out tonight but he did not have the courage, because he cannot accept the fact that this nation has left him behind and embraced the future. I can understand why the coalition cannot see the future, but we can and we will deliver on it. (Time expired)

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Can I indicate to the chamber that the clocks will be set for four minutes for Senator Brown, two minutes for Senator Xenophon, nine minutes for Senator Abetz and 10 minutes for Senator Wong. I do that with the concurrence of the Senate. I remind senators to be orderly.