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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Now that the Prime Minister has cited the Clean Energy Finance Corporation $10 billion as one of his three excuses to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for not giving funding to the Green Climate Fund, can the minister tell me whether the government has now decided to abandon its plan to abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, or was the Prime Minister deliberately lying to another world leader?

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Milne, it would be advantageous—you did reflect on the Prime Minister by indicating he deliberately lied. It would be better if you could rephrase your question.

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

I am happy to do so, Mr President. I ask: was the Prime Minister deceiving another world leader?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No.

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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I ask the minister again: the Prime Minister cited the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to Chancellor Angela Merkel. Is the government going to abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation—yes or no?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, no.

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

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I take from that that the government is not going to abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. Everyone heard it here, did we not?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

I feel like I need to get clarification from Senator Abetz. Senator Abetz, is the government going to abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our policy remains.