Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, Senator Ruston. Can the minister confirm that the National Farmers Federation 2030 Roadmap includes the goal of Australian agriculture achieving carbon neutrality by 2030?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I can.

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

Senator McAllister, a supplementary question?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In October 2019, the Prime Minister endorsed the National Farmers Federation's road map, declaring:

This is a bold vision. But it's an achievable one.

Does the Morrison government continue to fully support the NFF's road map and their goal of being carbon-neutral by 2030?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator McAllister, for your question. Certainly the bold vision of the National Farmers Federation in targeting a goal of zero emissions by 2050 is something—

Opposition senators: 2030!

Sorry, by 2030—my apologies. As you can see, I'm not working off any notes here. But the National Farmers Federation—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Thank you very much, Senator McAllister, for your question. It's a very important question about the contribution that agriculture is prepared to make, along with other businesses around this country, towards making sure that we have a future, a clean energy future. One of the things that the National Farmers Federation—

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order that goes to relevance. The question asked whether the NFF's road map was supported by government and in particular whether their goal of being carbon-neutral by 2030 is supported. I'd like an answer in response to that.

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

Senator McAllister, you have reminded the minister of the question.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator McAllister, for your confirmation of your question. The 2030 Roadmap of the National Farmers Federation is a road map of the National Farmers Federation. (Time expired)

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

Senator McAllister, a final supplementary question?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In addition to the National Farmers Federation, can the minister confirm that a target of net zero emissions by 2050 has been endorsed by the Business Council of Australia, the CSIRO, the Australian Academy of Science, the Property Council of Australia, the Ai Group, the Grattan Institute, BHP, Qantas, the Commonwealth Bank, Telstra, AGL, Origin and Energy Australia?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In my capacity as the representative of the minister for agriculture, I can advise the chamber of the commitment made by the National Farmers Federation in their road map towards 2030. But what I would say is that, along with many industries around Australia, we thank the National Farmers Federation for their commitment towards reducing emissions. As we all know, the agricultural sector is a sector that has been constantly criticised for its high emissions. So we thank the National Farmers Federation for that commitment.

But the Morrison government have made it very, very clear that, whatever we do towards reducing carbon emissions into the future, we'll be responsible. We'll be responsible in terms of being environmentally effective and we will also be economically responsible. We will make sure that we do not commit the Australian public to something that we do not know the price of.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! I'm about to call Senator Molan for the next question.