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

I thank Senator Faruqi for the question, and I would make the point that I think there are a number of aspects to her question. First I'll go to the assistance that the government does provide, and I would make the point that over the period that those opposite were in government they cut nearly $12 billion from development assistance. And I regret deeply that the bipartisanship that was offered by us in opposition for continuing the maintenance, the growth and the development in the Official Development Assistance program was never taken up by either Minister Bishop or Minister Payne. I regret that, because I think it would have been much better for the country and also for the people of our region if that bipartisanship had been maintained and there had been less of a chase for some of the right-wing populists who opposed development assistance. I think there is a strong national security case for development assistance, there is a strong peace dividend from it and there is a strong ethical imperative for it as well, given that we know we can avert the loss of lives and we can improve education and health outcomes for people who need that so much in the region.

In relation to climate, this government has come to office with a much more ambitious commitment on climate change. This will see Australia's emissions reduced by 43 per cent. This will see the vast majority of Australia's energy, notwithstanding that we are an emissions-intensive economy, being renewable energy—in excess of 80 per cent—this decade. I appreciate that the Greens do not have the same view about the need to transition. We recognise the need to transition and deliver in the real world. When it comes to development, we have come to office with additional assistance to be provided to the Pacific, which was an election commitment, and I thank my colleagues for that. We made clear to Pacific family members the importance of— (Time expired)