Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Waters for her question. Initially, let me just make the observation, which is always important in terms of considering climate policy, that single weeks, or a single weekend, or a single weather event shouldn't, of course, be conflated immediately as a matter of climate change. That is not dismissing at all the longer-term trends and issues that are reported and forecast by different agencies. In relation to emissions reduction in Australia, I think it is important to remember the relative success Australia has had in reducing our domestic emissions here in Australia, when compared with other countries around the world.

Senator Watt interjecting—

I hear Senator Watt's comments. Australia's emissions are down 16.6 per cent since 2005. Across comparable countries, across OECD nations, they've fallen by around nine per cent. We're running at nearly twice the rate of reduction compared with comparable countries. Indeed, other countries—allies and friends like Canada and New Zealand, who are often cited by the Greens or others on these matters—have barely shifted the dial in relation to their emissions, whilst Australia has seen a reduction of some 16.6 per cent. Australia has delivered, is delivering and will continue to deliver when it comes to emissions reductions. Our country will beat our Kyoto-era targets by some 459 million tonnes, in relation to abatement targets. That is a huge overachievement relative to the commitments we've made. Our ambition is well and truly not only to meet our Paris commitments but to repeat our trajectory of meeting and beating targets, as we did with Kyoto 1 and Kyoto 2.