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

I am again asked about Howard government legislation and I again say that the department is already working with business to improve the reporting system put in place by the Howard government. I would remind those opposite that this legislation dates from the time when the opposition used to believe that a price on carbon was sensible. In fact, in introducing the very legislation about which we are talking the then minister said:

This bill is the first major step in establishing the Australian emissions trading scheme.

That was Mr Turnbull, on behalf of the Howard government, when introducing the scheme to which the honourable senator is referring. So, really, this is a piece of legisla­tion introduced by those opposite when they used to believe in a price on carbon.