Fatima Payman (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My good friend over there, Senator Cadell—we started in the Senate together and did Senate school together—has made a very important point, which is that it is impossible to get everything right. You would imagine that people in government for almost a decade would at least get close to getting things right, but no. So that's the reason we're having this debate. It was very interesting to see the other side pretend to care when the question came up earlier about why the minister for the environment closed the Central Queensland coalmine. We're getting attacked for that as though we don't care about the environment, or, as Senator O'Sullivan pointed out, we're all talk but no action. But let me be clear. After a decade of no action promoting renewable energy, which the other side clearly failed miserably at, it's really interesting to see how they react when they see a responsible minister for the environment in Tanya Plibersek, who is taking action to close the mine.

This may be the first time that a decision like this has been made in 22 years. This decision was made on the premise of the mine having unacceptable impacts on the Great Barrier Reef, which is responsible for about $6 billion worth of economic activity every year and 64,000 jobs. We're talking about job security. We're talking about creating more jobs for Australians out there. There's Clive Palmer, who wants to challenge this decision. It is really shocking to know that those on the other side are questioning this or are quite confused about why the minister would make such an important decision.

I'm proud of being part of a government that puts priority on the environment, because, when we went to the election, we heard each and every person in Western Australia and across Australia tell us how important it is to save the environment, to prioritise it and to put it on the agenda as a matter of importance. At the end of the day, what are we fighting for here if we don't have a planet to live on?

For those on the other side, just for a piece of clarity, that was an export-only mine. It wouldn't be producing any coal for our energy grid. After attempting all those policies during their time—22 attempts, according to the record—there was a zero success rate. So they couldn't even land an energy policy. If they really cared about the energy policy, why did they vote against us when we went brought to this chamber the goal to reduce emissions by 2030 and have a reduction target of 43 per cent? Why didn't they support us?

In light of all this talk of being mature, responsible, open and transparent, that's what this Albanese Labor government has been indicating from the day we were elected. We're sick and tired of the delay, denial and destruction we've seen. Australians want to see action, and action is what they're seeing with this government. We need to bring to people's attention that the government's policies are very clear. We've been honest with the Australian people. We've indicated how much bad policies have impacted the time that we're in government now and all the mess that we need to clean up.

Aside from the emissions reduction target and ensuring that we have a clear path to net zero by 2050, we've also committed to the policies of $20 billion for Rewiring the Nation, $3 billion for the National Reconstruction Fund for renewables and low-emission technologies, stronger laws to protect the ozone layer and signing the Global Methane Pledge. These are things that are important to everyday Australians. If those opposite really care, they should talk their constituents and listen to them. Even if you are on the other side, you are still part of this parliament and you need to listen. Perhaps then you would get a clearer understanding of what they're trying to say to you.