Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Gallagher. How is the Albanese government helping to put the climate wars behind us after a decade of climate denial and inaction?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

ER (—) (): Thanks, Senator Walsh, for the excellent question. The Albanese government's climate change bill is a move to end the climate wars—to say goodbye and good riddance to the nine years of delay, dysfunction, denial and denigration from the previous government. The fact is that Australia didn't just stand still under the former government; we went backwards. Our reputation on the international stage and investment confidence were stifled. The legislation that's passed the House is good for jobs, for power bills, for the economy and for our future.

The climate change bill that we have introduced and passed and that will come to the Senate legislates both the 2050 net zero target and the 43 per cent by 2030 emissions reduction target, tasks the Climate Change Authority to assess progress against these targets and advise the government on future targets, requires the Minister for Climate Change to report annually to parliament on progress in meeting our targets and makes the targets relevant to key agencies like the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Export Finance Australia.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're going to blow your target with Beetaloo!

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese government's climate change bill is an opportunity to vote on the side of progress, to vote for our children's future and to vote for a stronger economy. The government knows this, the business community knows this and Australians know this. The only people who continue to fail—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, order!

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not sure what Senator Thorpe is screaming at me for. I mean, the last I heard, you were agreeing with this bill.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister—

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm responding to interjections. If you have someone yelling at you from down there, it is very hard to ignore it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, you are being disorderly and I would ask you to show the respect the minister deserves as she answers the question. Minister, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. The business community know it, and the Australian people know it. The only people who continue to fail to understand it are those opposite. Passage of the legislation will mean that this parliament collectively draws a line in the sand saying, 'Enough is enough.' Our legislation is sensible and achievable. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Walsh, a first supplementary question?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What will policy certainty mean for Australian businesses?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is an important question about why we are seeking to legislate the target and why it is so important. While our government is acting and working with the parliament in a constructive and open fashion, those on the other side have not learnt anything—well, maybe some of them have; we think some of them may have learnt something. Those opposite are ignoring the message that the Australian people sent them in May. They're also ignoring the broad coalition of support for the bill from right across the business community: the Business Council of Australia, Australian Industry Group, the Minerals Council of Australia, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Investor Group on Climate Change, the Australian Energy Council, the Governance Institute of Australia, Responsible Investment Association Australasia, the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rio Tinto, and the NAB. There are plenty of others who also support these bills, and it's time for the opposition to support them, too.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Walsh, a second supplementary question?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How will Australian households benefit from increased action on climate change, driven by the Albanese government's climate change agenda?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We haven't wasted a day in getting on with the job of cleaning up the chaos, division and dysfunction left by the previous government, for which Australian households have been paying the price. The fact is that climate change policy is energy policy and it's good economic policy. We can drive down emissions and drive down power bills at the same time. Our detailed Powering Australia plan will create 604,000 jobs, with five out of six of them to be created in the regions. The plan will spur $76 billion worth of investment, and it will deliver 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030, consistent with AEMO's step-change scenario, which projects 83 per cent renewable energy. The Powering Australia plan includes modernising our ageing electricity grid, investing in renewable metals and renewable energy, 85 solar banks, 400 community batteries, 10,000 new energy apprenticeships and a new energy skills program—showing how we can seize the opportunity that comes from this change.