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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) congratulates the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama for the Executive Order requiring the reduction of greenhouse gas pollution by 40 per cent below 2008 levels in 2025 from activities directly undertaken by the Federal Government;

(b) notes that measures such as energy productivity retrofits, directly contracting renewable energy projects, lifting vehicle fuel efficiency standards and increasing ethanol use in defence vehicles not only reduces operating costs and saves taxpayers money, but it boosts domestic economic activity while driving down pollution; and

(c) urges the Federal Government to assess the potential impact that it can directly make through its own activities and procurement policies as it searches for policies that will deliver Australia's post 2020 targets.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Is leave granted? Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government supports government procurement on a value for money basis. Unlike the Greens, the coalition government cares about ensuring that taxpayer dollars are well spent. The government acknowledges the efforts in the United States to reduce emissions without an economy-wide carbon tax which pushes up electricity prices. The United States is using direct action measures which are supported in Australia. Energy productivity retrofits are supported under the coalition's Emissions Reduction Fund, renewable energy is supported under the renewable energy target, ethanol and biofuel usage in transport fleets is supported under the Emissions Reduction Fund and light vehicle fuel efficiency standards are being consulted on through the energy grant paper.

Question agreed to.