George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The difference, Senator Urquhart, is that the Prime Minister's views are the views of the government and Mr Christensen's views are his own views. He is a backbencher, and one of the glories of my side of politics is we have a backbench that is entitled to have a different view from the executive, a backbench that is entitled to have a different view on policy issues from the frontbench.

This government supports renewable energy, as you know, and if you listen in particular to what Senator Birmingham, who represents the portfolio in this place, has had to say on many, many, many occasions this year you would understand how strongly this government is committed to renewable energy. That does not mean, however, that you cannot have a conversation about it.