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

Of course we recognise the significance of the sector. I think what the senator is asserting there is that that sector should be exempt. We do take the policy view that the most economically efficient way to transition the economy is to have a broad based carbon price. That was the position advised to former Prime Minister Howard when he was Prime Minister. It was the position advised to us when we entered government, and it is the position we have carried into the policy framework that is the clean energy package.

If you come into this chamber and say, 'Everybody should be exempt', we know what happens there—households end up paying, which is your policy. A broad based carbon price is a much more efficient way to ensure we transition the economy, and that is what we are talking about. We are talking about giving the incentive to investors to invest in the clean energy sector. We are talking about giving the incentive to invest in the renewable energy sector. We are talking about giving business the incentive to do business more cleanly, with less pollution and more highly efficient. (Time expired)