Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

By the law of diminishing returns, I ask that general business notice of motion No. 942 standing in my name for today, relating to the national emissions guarantee, be taken as a formal motion.

David Leyonhjelm (NSW, Liberal Democratic Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order—it's the National Energy Guarantee, not the national emissions guarantee.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think Senator Bernardi made an error.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's guaranteeing emissions. I'm not sure what the problem is.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal? There being none, Senator Bernardi.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that parts of Australia have been drought declared for years, including, at present, the whole state of New South Wales;

(b) further notes the public commentary about the National Energy Guarantee and concerns that farmers might bear an increased burden to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from their farming enterprises; and

(c) calls upon the Minister for the Environment and Energy, and other relevant ministers, to ensure that the National Energy Guarantee quarantines farmers from reducing such emissions for the foreseeable future.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While Labor supports this motion, we note that the National Energy Guarantee is a policy that applies to the National Electricity Market and does not directly cover the agricultural or other non-electricity sectors of the economy. Labor has a longstanding position of exempting Australian farmers from any emissions reduction mechanism applicable to non-electricity sectors of the economy while supporting the land sector to cut emissions and generate new income by taking advantage of opportunities to participate in growing carbon markets.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move an amendment to general business notice of motion No. 942, moved by Senator Bernardi.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is not granted.

Question agreed to.