Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

This government are committed to meaningful action on climate change. We, of course, as a country, have exceeded our commitments on the Kyoto 1. We are well and truly on track to meet our commitments under Kyoto 2. It's a matter of public record that we signed on to commitments in Paris for further emissions reductions of 26 per cent to 28 per cent by 2030 on 2005 levels.

But, of course, on this side of the parliament, we are pursuing initiatives to strengthen environmental protection and reduce emissions in a way that is also economically responsible. I had thought that that was the Greens' position at some point because, of course, you voted with us to vote down the Labor Party's carbon pollution reduction scheme. You voted—and I think Senator Hanson-Young was actually here. Senator Hanson-Young voted against the carbon pollution reduction scheme. No doubt, if the Greens had voted with Labor to impose the carbon pollution reduction scheme, I suspect it would have been very hard for us to unscramble the egg. It is very much the Greens who have helped us pursue environmental policies in a way that is economically responsible.

So, quite frankly, I can't take Senator Hanson-Young very seriously when I'm aware of the track record of her personally and her party when it comes to these matters. We will continue to pursue effective action on climate change in a way that is economically responsible, and it's a matter of public record that we are delivering on the commitments that we have made.