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

I completely reject the assertion made by Senator Waters at the end of her question there. Our government, consistently, have worked to make sure that Australia has the policies in place to implement the commitments that Australia has made through stage 2 of the Kyoto protocol commitment period, and we now continue to work hard to implement policies necessary to meet our commitments in relation to the Paris Agreement. We have done that recognising that Australia alone doesn't solve the issues in relation to climate change. Australia alone plays a role—

Senator Whish-Wilson interjecting—

I'll take Senator Whish-Wilson's interjection quite happily. The leadership we've shown as a country is the leadership of a nation that makes commitments, delivers on our commitments and exceeds on the delivery of our commitments. We will be quite happy to go anywhere and explain Australia's achievements, the achievements of Australian businesses, of Australian people and of Australian farmers—all of those Australians who have contributed towards reducing Australia's emissions—who have enabled Australia to reduce our emissions by 16.6 per cent since 2005. We have done so knowing that these steps around global cooperation are necessary to tackle issues, including related to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef. We know that Australia alone won't achieve it. But we believe we set a high standard by delivering on our commitments, by exceeding those commitments and by demonstrating to the world that you can do it as a nation, at home—as Australian businesses, households and farmers have successfully done and continue to do.