Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in favour of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Bill 2012—a bill that will establish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Special Account and that appropriates funds to that account. The Clean Energy Finance Corporation will be a $10 billion fund that will provide a new source of finance for the development or commercialisation of Australian based clean energy technologies and projects. This includes renewable energy technologies, low-emission technologies and energy efficiency projects.

All we have heard from the opposition today is negativity, and all we ever hear from the opposition about transitioning to a low-carbon economy is negativity. After Senator Joyce's contribution, I would like to share with the Senate today the story of Chicken Little's adventure. Once upon a time there was a tiny, tiny chicken named Chicken Little. One day Chicken Little was scratching in the garden when something fell on her head. 'Oh,' cried Chicken Little, 'the sky is falling. I must go and tell the king.' So Chicken Little ran and ran, and she met Henny Penny. 'Where do you travel so fast, Chicken Little?' asked Henny Penny. 'Ah, Henny Penny,' said Chicken Little, 'the sky is falling, and I must go and tell the king.' 'How do you know that the sky is falling, Chicken Little?' asked Henny Penny. 'I saw it with my eyes, I heard it with my ears, and a bit of it fell on my head,' said Chicken Little. 'I will go with you to the king,' said Henny Penny. So they ran along together, and they met Ducky Daddles. 'Where do you travel so fast?' asked Ducky Daddles. 'Ah, Ducky Daddles,' said Chicken Little, 'the sky is falling, and Henny Penny and I go to tell the king.' 'How do you know that the sky is falling, Chicken Little?' asked Ducky Daddles. 'I saw it with my eyes, I heard it with my ears, and a bit of it fell on my head,' said Chicken Little. 'I will go with you to the king,' said Ducky Daddles. So they ran along together, and they met Goosey Loosey. 'Where do you travel so fast, Chicken Little?' asked Goosey Loosey. 'Ah, Goosey Loosey,' said Chicken Little, 'the sky is falling. Henny Penny and Ducky Daddles and I go to tell the king.' 'How do you know that the sky is falling, Chicken Little?' asked Goosey Loosey. 'I saw it with my eyes, I heard it with my ears, and a bit of it fell on my head,' said Chicken Little. 'I will go with you,' said Goosey Loosey. So they ran along together, and they met Turkey Lurkey. 'Where do you travel so fast, Chicken Little?' asked Turkey Lurkey. 'Ah, Turkey Lurkey,' said Chicken Little, 'the sky is falling, and Henny Penny and Ducky Daddles and Goosey Loosey and I go to tell the king.' 'How do you know that the sky is falling?' asked Turkey Lurkey. 'I saw it with my eyes, I heard it with my ears, and a bit of it fell on my head,' said Chicken Little. 'I will go with you to the king,' said Turkey Lurkey. So they ran along together, and they met Foxy Loxy. 'Where do you travel so fast, Chicken Little?' asked Foxy Loxy. 'Ah, Foxy Loxy,' said Chicken Little, 'the sky is falling, and we go to tell the king.' 'Do you know the way to the king's house?' asked Foxy Loxy. 'No,' said Chicken Little. 'No,' said Henny Penny. 'No,' said Ducky Daddles. 'No,' said Goosey Loosey. 'No,' said Turkey Lurkey. 'Then come with me and I will show you,' said Foxy Loxy. Just as he was about to lead them into his den to eat them, the sky fell on him. 'Oh dear,' said Chicken Little. 'We're too late,' said Henny Penny.