Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

My answer in relation to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency was very clear. The government's position is that we are committed to the abolition. But we have also been very clear that, in the remaining weeks that we have in terms of sitting weeks before Christmas, our priority is to deal with a series of high priority and outstanding budget measures. We do not anticipate that legislation in relation to the abolition of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation will come back before this chamber before the end of the year. In fact, we do not intend to bring it back given the time available and given that there are higher priorities before Christmas. So we will pursue that ongoing commitment, which remains, to abolish both the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and ARENA early in the New Year. But when it comes to this proposition that, somehow, there is a sneaky conspiracy theory about trying to introduce international permits through the backdoor, there is absolutely no way. The Australian government is committed to achieving emissions reductions here in Australia through domestic efforts incentivised by our direct action policy and the Emissions Reduction Fund.

The provisions that Senator Milne was referring to relate to an amendment foreshadowed by Senator Xenophon. It is not initiated by the government. In order to give effect to what Senator Milne is suggesting, the government would have to regulate that way and we have been absolutely crystal clear that the government has absolutely no intention whatsoever of regulating that way. We will, as we have been very clear, remain totally focused on pursuing emissions reductions through this legislation and through the policy framework more generally—domestically here in Australia and not by using international permits.