Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

As the Senate well knows and has heard me say before, every time Australia has set an emissions reduction target we have met it and exceeded it. That is what is going to happen in relation to our 2020 target, and we are confident in relation to our 2030 target. Senator Xenophon may not be aware, but on 24 March this year, the Turnbull government released a discussion paper in relation to meeting our 2030 emissions target which looks at the comprehensive areas of emissions activity. Yes, indeed, as Senator Xenophon recognised in an earlier answer, I recognise that around one-third of emissions come from the stationary energy sector and that the National Energy Guarantee, with its emissions guarantee built into it, will ensure that the energy markets play their role in delivering the least cost abatement to meet their share of our emissions reduction targets by 2030. The government already has in place a comprehensive process which will inform further policies to meet the remainder of the 2030 targets.