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

Senator Milne! Senator Milne was—

An opposition senator interjecting

Senator Payne did vote with Senator Milne, in fact. They voted together to get the cashless debit card—sorry; I'm very tired. It was the CPRS. They voted against that. She would ask question after question to me about fossil fuel companies, and I remember saying to her at one point: 'You know, it is possible that we take a different position not because we are corrupt, as is the implication, but because we just don't agree. We don't agree with the policy proposition.' And that is the case.

Now, I accept that there will be a contest over the safeguard mechanism. I have faith that Mr Bowen will ensure that what is presented to this parliament will have a cogent policy basis. You may not agree with it, and that is your right, but he will do so, as the cabinet will do so, on the basis of our judgement about what the best economic policy for the nation is. So I do reject—

An opposition senator interjecting

It's very easy, isn't it, as a campaigning tool? But I do reject this proposition that somehow a Labor government which has taken a very ambitious position on climate, and which has—let's be frank—paid a political price for many years as a consequence of holding the position on climate, would simply do what you're suggesting. That is not the case. We are always guided by what is best for the country. (Time expired)