David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Minister Wong, the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change. Minister, does the government owe children a duty of care to protect them against the harms brought about by climate change?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I acknowledge that Senator Pocock made a contribution previously and regularly about this issue. I would say to him, as I said when I was climate minister many years ago, that the idea of intergenerational equity does matter, that we do have a responsibility in this place and as political leaders to think about not just the equity for those who elect us now but also those to come. That is one of the imperatives around acting on climate change. That is why, amongst many reasons, this government has been very clear about the level of ambition in our targets and the importance of acting on climate.

We know it is a big task to reach the targets that we have articulated. It would have been far better if Australia had not had a decade where we didn't do this work, but we do recognise the economic and generational imperative of ensuring we do transition the Australian economy in the ways that we have outlined. Whether one talks about it in the context of duty of care or whether you talk about it in the context of our responsibility to generations to come, whatever the words you use, I do think those who appreciate what climate change means for our people need to also think about what it means for those yet to come. That's why we need to ensure we transition the economy. And there is only one party of government that will do that work, and that is the Australian Labor Party. We are the only party of government that is prepared to do that. We see that again, if I may say, Senator Pocock, disappointingly, after years of the climate wars, where we thought, finally, some policy sense would be seen in the coalition, we see what's happened under— (Time expired)

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

Senator Pocock, a first supplementary?

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A legislation inquiry into my duty of care bill received 403 submissions from young people, academics, lawyers, and even unions supporting the bill. The only submission that opposed a legislated duty of care to protect children was from the Institute of Public Affairs. Why is the government siding with the IPA on climate change government policy?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pocock, you're generally a very considered contributor to political debate in this place, but that was not a considered contribution. I mean, to suggest that this government—

Honourable Senator:

An honourable senator interjecting

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I think it's reasonable. To suggest that this government, on climate policy, is doing what the IPA wants in circumstances where you know what conservative think tanks and—

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

Senator Pocock, on a point of order?

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance, my question is about a legislated duty of care, not about broader climate policy.

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

Thank you, Senator Pocock. You referenced your bill and the submissions received for and against, and I believe the minister is being relevant. Minister Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With respect, Senator Pocock, you're the one who made the suggestions about the IPA. I think I'm entitled to respond on behalf of the Labor government. What I'd say to you is: we understand how important action on climate change is. We fought to ensure a cap on emissions in government. It was obviously highly contested. You may remember the sort of scare campaign that was run by those opposite, including $100 roasts. Notwithstanding that, we have always held our position on climate, and we have gone to numerous elections and we have fought the argument— (Time expired)

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

Senator Pocock, a second supplementary?

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, will the government go to the next election telling young people that they don't deserve a legislated duty of care from the people who are sent to this place? From what I can see, our job should be to look after our young people and future generations?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We will go to the next election saying to young Australians that they deserve a government that delivers on action on climate change, that delivers a reduction in emissions and that delivers a transition in the Australian economy—

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A billion-dollar gas project approved yesterday!

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

Order! Senator Whish-Wilson, order!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and the only party of government that will ever deliver that is the Australian Labor Party. And that change will not come from motions on the floor of the Senate, or from slogans, or from political stunts—

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

Senator Whish-Wilson!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

or from interjections from the Greens political party. It will come from the hard policy work and the hard economic work that we know is required to change this economy from a fossil fuel dependent economy to one that is a clean energy economy and to ensure Australia is a renewable energy power. Change comes from government. The problem in this country is that change has not been delivered until the election of this government and we are delivering it.