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

They're very touchy, aren't they! They had a bad Saturday night.

Senator, this is a variation on a question that you and your colleagues have asked on a number of occasions. What I would say to you is: (1) we agree with the need to make reductions in the emissions Australia produces. That is a position that I have been arguing, and the Labor Party has been arguing, for many years. We sought to implement that in government. We fought for that in opposition over nine years, and I am pleased, as I'm sure many people across Australia are, that we not only have a government who wants to act on climate but have a parliament that wishes to act on climate.

I think all of those points go back to some of the points you raise. I think the question is: what is your diagnosis, or your assertion, about the test to deal with that? We believe the test is as set by the UNFCCC and as agreed amongst the international community, which is economies over time will make reductions in their emissions, will reduce the emissions they produce. That is why we have an election commitment to a 43 per cent reduction by 2030, which will see the overwhelming majority of energy in the energy sector coming from renewable sources.

I appreciate that the Greens have a different view. I trust they also have a fiscal position that they're prepared to take which reflects that in terms of the revenue to the Australian economy by those sectors. But, unlike you, we're not going to target workers and one industry. We are going to reduce, over time— (Time expired)