Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you. I anticipated this might happen, actually. Can I tell you why? Because we know those on the other side will do anything not to talk about climate change. You will do anything not to talk about climate action. You will do anything not to debate the bill. You will do anything to ignore that the Australian people clearly voted for action on climate. You can't bear it, can you? You can't bear it. You can't bear it that the climate wars that you thought would continue to yield a political dividend might actually end. You can't bear it.

I would make the point, Madam President, that President Reid in 1999 made this point: that questions may not be asked on the detail of the bill or debate, but otherwise the topic is not barred from questioning. I know that it's a hard thing, isn't it? If you're a member of the coalition, you just don't want to talk about climate, because Senator Payne doesn't agree with Senator Canavan, and Senator McKenzie doesn't agree with Senator Ruston. They are utterly divided on this. They are utterly divided on this, and the voters know it. (Time expired)