Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Cox for her question. Senator Cox, I have to disagree with your assessment of the ability to deliver the National Gas Infrastructure Plan at the same time as meeting the targets that we committed to internationally, to make sure that we achieve net zero by 2050. The absolute express answer and explicit answer to your question is: I do believe that both are achievable simultaneously. What I can also add to that is that this government absolutely remains committed to meeting all of its commitments, all of its targets and all of its promises to Australia. That includes making sure that we deliver affordable and reliable energy to support the economy so that the economy supports jobs and so that jobs are available for Australians, so that they can have the opportunity to be able to access the opportunities that are presented by our resource sector going into the future.

We are also absolutely committed to meeting our targets. Our track record so far, as a government, in terms of meeting targets that have previously been agreed to is exceptional. We meet our targets and we exceed our targets. There is every possibility that we will continue to do that. We are intending to exceed our targets as we go through to 2030. We, as a government, are absolutely committed to the delivery of the National Gas Infrastructure Plan, because it is absolutely imperative to rural and regional Australia—the jobs, the businesses and economies of people who live outside of the capital cities. I know that most of you live in capital cities, but this is a program that not only supports all Australians, allows Australians to be able to benefit from the wealth of the resources that sit under our ground, but supports our regional communities, their economies and the jobs for people that live in regional Australia. I would have thought that that is what you would have wanted too. (Time expired)