Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Minister Ludwig. With negotiations over the second commitment period for the Kyoto protocol continuing this week at the UNFCCC meeting in Doha, and with Australia's decision to sign on to a second commitment period, will the government now reveal to the parliament its Kyoto target—that is, the quantified emissions limitation or reduction objective, the QELRO—for the second commitment period? Given that our last QELRO was 108 per cent of 1990 levels, will it be less than 100 per cent based on 1990 levels to ensure that Australia does not become a roadblock to a new agreement?

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Might I say, a very good question!

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can join the Greens! You know, those Queenslanders join different parties all the time!

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Ludwig.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Milne for her question, and for her continuing support for putting a price on carbon. What is incredibly important in this debate is that we do have Mr Combet dealing right at this moment with how we deal with the commitment period into the future.

It is important that we do put a price on carbon and that we do drive a low-carbon future. There is a range of questions that Senator Milne has asked in that; I will certainly take what I can on notice if I do not address them during this period. But Australia is ready to commit to limit its emissions in the CP2 from 2013 to 2020 to an average of 99.5 per cent of 1990 emissions. This compares with Australia's commitment over the first Kyoto period, 2008-12, to limit emissions to an average of 108 per cent of 1990 levels, a commitment which Australia is on track to meet.

The average yearly carbon budget for the second Kyoto period is the same as the 1990 one, which simply reflects the fact that Australia's commitment period 1 budget was significantly higher than the 1990 levels. This CP2 commitment is entirely consistent with Australia's existing unconditional pledge to reduce emissions to five per cent below the 2000 levels by 2020.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But they increase by 2020!

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And, of course, this commitment has bipartisan support although, Senator Macdonald, I suspect that—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He's not in on it.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He is not in on it—that is a good expression, Senator Wong.

So it is backed by existing policies and legislation. It is consistent with emissions reductions that are projected under the carbon-pricing mechanism, and the carbon— (Time expired)

Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I shall try again: will the government commit to placing a target range in Annex B of the Kyoto protocol whilst in Doha to demonstrate to the international community that Australia is still open to move to a stronger 2020 target that is greater than five per cent after the Climate Change Authority undertakes its review in 2014? And, if so, what is the range that Australia is going to put into Annex B in Doha?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, if I do not deal with this in the way that Senator Milne wants me to then I will take it on notice to the extent that I will ask Mr Combet to see if he wants to provide anything additional to what I have to say today.

The government will retain the ability to move up its existing 2020 target range of five to 15 per cent, or 25 per cent below the 2000 levels, if conditions on the extent of global action are met. These are current negotiations, and the independent Climate Change Authority will retain its role of recommending a national target and ETS carbon budget by early 2014. The Clean Energy Future legislation also contains a long-term target to reduce Australia's carbon pollution by 80 per cent of the 2050 levels compared with 2000 levels.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is your target by 2020? It's an increase!

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What we do know, from the interjection— (Time expired)

Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do look forward to the minister coming back with those specific figures and also an answer as to whether that is going into Annex B. But I ask a further supplementary question: how can the government justify a target that is not science and evidence based? A five per cent reduction target, given the eight- to 14-gigaton emissions gap to keep us under two degrees is there. How can you justify a target that is not science and evidence based?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Milne for her question. Of course, it is to an extent advantageous for Australia to continue to drive a low-carbon future with energy, supporting the carbon price mechanism and liable entities by ensuring access to a range of credible, cost-effective international units and supporting the development of the new international climate change agreement to apply from 2020. That will include commitments by all countries, including the world's largest emitters.

That is why joining the CP2 under the terms strengthens Australia's national interest. That is why it is within our national interest to do this, to encourage—

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can't believe this, Joe! You cannot possibly believe this!

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course, those opposite do not want to join in this process at all. Those opposite continue to be critics, and they are not going to drive a low-carbon energy future; they are going to continue— (Time expired)