Mark Furner (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. Can the minister inform the Senate about public reaction to the State of the Climate snapshot released yesterday by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology? Has there been any rational attempt to challenge the facts reported in the publication—with emphasis on the word ‘rational’?

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Furner for his question. This morning, Senator McGauran issued one of the most extraordinary and lamentable media releases I have seen in this place. It is a vicious attack upon the CSIRO. This is not the first time the opposition has maligned our premier research institution.

Trish Crossin (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Crossin interjecting—

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Crossin, you are quite right; Senator McGauran is in fact the runt of the litter, but he, unfortunately—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Carr, you will withdraw that. It does not assist question time. Senator Carr, withdraw.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw. There is no question that Senator McGauran represents an increasingly shrill group of senators on the other side of the chamber. However, Senator McGauran has, of course, ventured into new territory. This is more than an attack on a great Australian institution.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Because science is all about ideology for you!

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is an attack not just on a great Australian institution, Senator Brandis, but on the 6,500 dedicated men and women who work for it.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Carr, resume your seat. On both sides—when there is silence we will proceed. Senator Carr, proceed.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is an attack on science. It is an attack not just on science but on reason itself. As the Senate was told yesterday, the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology have produced a new report that leaves us in no doubt that climate change is real.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Carr, resume your seat. The time for debating these issues is at the end of question time. That is why we have the time set aside. If you disagree with the view being expressed, that is the time to express it. Senator Carr, continue.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a pity those opposite do not seem to appreciate the fact that evidence is now incontrovertible. Temperatures are rising—

Julian McGauran (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGauran interjecting—

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGauran, do you deny this? Rainfall patterns are changing. Senator McGauran, do you deny that? Senator McGauran pretends to care about agriculture. (Time expired)

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I am waiting to call Senator Furner. I cannot do it whilst there is disorder on both sides of the chamber. Senator Furner.

Mark Furner (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate whether it is normal for the CSIRO to produce reports like the State of the Climate snapshot? Has anyone spoken in defence of the report? And, if the science is sound, what other basis is there for criticising the report?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis interjecting—

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The CSIRO has been providing objective, rigorous and well-informed reports like this one to the Australian public since 1926. Even a newspaper like the Australian understands this.

Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education and School Curriculum Standards) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Mason interjecting—

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Mason, you would appreciate how rarely I quote the Australian. This morning’s editorial said—

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Carr, resume your seat. Senator Brandis, constant interjecting is disorderly and you know that. Senator Carr, continue.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Even the Australian editorialised this morning that scientific observation and hard data are:

... the hallmarks of this new report, which is based on some of the most accurate meteorology records in the world.

It concluded:

The report is a useful resource to inform sensible debate.

Unfortunately, Senator McGauran does not want to be part of sensible debate. Instead, he prefers senseless vilification of the CSIRO. (Time expired)

Mark Furner (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a further supplementary question. Can the minister explain to the Senate how such mistaken interpretation of the State of the Climate snapshot might have arisen? Why is the clear-cut evidence of the report being denied?

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, there may well be moderates still left in the Liberal Party but their voices have been silenced. It is now a party of extremists. It is a party that follows its leader in asserting, against the scientific evidence that even the Australian accepts—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Carr resume your seat. When we have silence on both sides we will proceed with what is left of question time. Senator Carr, you have 38 seconds remaining.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wonder if Senator Mason accepts the view that climate change is crap. I trust he does not. What we have is a party that follows its leader in espousing the social attitudes and social values of the horse-and-buggy age. It is a party that follows its leader in making reckless promises and expecting that everyone else will be footing the bill. It is time that the extremists were hauled into line. Senator Minchin, I ask you: haul these extremists into line. You ought to fulfil your obligations to the Australian people and haul the extremists into line. (Time expired)

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.