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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the commencement of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland, that is critical to financing the Green Climate Fund (the Fund) that aims to spend USD $100 billion per year by 2020;

(b) commends the Morrison Government for rejecting the latest request for additional Australian taxpayer contribution to the Fund; and

(c) calls upon the Federal Government to follow the example of the United States of America and other nations and withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) 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.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government is committed to working more closely than ever with Pacific states on their issues of greatest concern, which include climate solutions and disaster resilience. We will keep the international commitments we have made, including our pledge of $300 million in climate assistance to the Pacific. Australia will not provide further funding to the UN Green Climate Fund, because we believe we can deliver more effective results for our region by working with our neighbours in the Pacific on climate solutions.

The Green Climate Fund is not projected to spend US$100 billion per year by 2020. This figure is the total global commitment to climate finance from all sources, including governments and the private sector.

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

The question is that the motion moved by Senate Bernardi be agreed to.