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58 <strong>SENATE</strong> Thursday, 13 October 2016<br />
Government senators interjecting—<br />
The PRESIDENT: On my right!<br />
Senator Cormann interjecting—<br />
Senator Jacinta Collins interjecting—<br />
The PRESIDENT: Senator Cormann and Senator Collins!<br />
Senator Jacinta Collins interjecting—<br />
The PRESIDENT: I mentioned Senator Cormann first, but you were shouting; you couldn't hear me.<br />
Senator Cormann interjecting—<br />
The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Cormann! Senator Wong, a point of order.<br />
Senator Wong: Again, this goes to direct relevance. I do not understand how quoting Mark Dreyfus can<br />
possibly be relevant to the question. Unlike the Attorney, the former Attorney-General Mr Dreyfus never had<br />
Solicitors-General like Gavan Griffith come out and say the things about him that this man has said about you.<br />
The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Wong. You are now debating the point. Order! There is no point of<br />
order. The Attorney-General answered the question at the commencement of his answer quite succinctly.<br />
Senator BRANDIS: As Mr Dreyfus said:<br />
… despite the fact that I say that the Solicitor-General has got higher status, she or he is still just a barrister. And, most<br />
difficult legal problems are capable of another outcome. I mean, if I've learnt [anything] in my legal career, I've learnt that.<br />
(Time expired)<br />
Climate Change<br />
Senator DI NATALE (Victoria—Leader of the Australian Greens) (14:16): My question is for the Minister<br />
representing the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Minister Birmingham. Minister, today the UN asked<br />
30 questions about Australia's lack of ability to meet its pledged climate change targets. In fact, the UN achieved<br />
the impossible by bringing the US and China together to criticise and question Australia's climate policy. Minister,<br />
how can the government make it all the way to 2020, or even 2030, and achieve a reduction in pollution without<br />
any credible policy pathway to get there?<br />
Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Education and Training) (14:17): I thank Senator Di<br />
Natale for his question. I am very pleased to report to the Senate—and to ensure that Senator Di Natale is well<br />
informed of the reality—that Australia is not only on track but ahead of track to meet our 2020 emissions<br />
reduction targets. The government is absolutely confident that, just as Australia has been a global citizen, every<br />
time we have made a commitment in relation to emissions reduction targets we have not only met those<br />
commitments but exceeded those commitments. We are a country—<br />
Senator Back: Kyoto.<br />
Senator BIRMINGHAM: Thank you for that, Senator Back. Indeed, the first Kyoto reporting period saw<br />
Australia meet and exceed its commitment. We are confident that the 2020 target will be met and exceeded by the<br />
actions of the Turnbull government and predecessors, and that we can deliver—as we do, as a good citizen—the<br />
types of actions that people expect us to. We welcome the fact that the Paris Agreement is coming into force of<br />
entry. We welcome the fact that there is strong global cooperation, which Australia is, yet again, a party to, in<br />
setting 2030 targets that are amongst the toughest targets in the world on a per capita basis, and amongst the<br />
toughest targets in the world in terms of their relativity to the size of our economy. This is actually strong action<br />
from Australia which, once again, we will deliver. The 26 to 28 per cent reduction compared to 2005 levels under<br />
the Paris Agreement is a target that is comparable with other developed countries and delivers significant<br />
reductions in emissions per capita and per dollar of GDP, as I indicated. We have met every single target to date;<br />
we are confident we will meet every single target into the future.<br />
The PRESIDENT: Senator Di Natale, a supplementary question.<br />
Senator DI NATALE (Victoria—Leader of the Australian Greens) (14:19): Market analysts RepuTex do not<br />
agree. They have modelled that by 2030 Australia's pollution will have declined by just two per cent under current<br />
policy settings—nowhere near the measly 26 to 28 per cent target, and an insult to the 60 to 80 per cent reduction<br />
that the science demands. Minister, will you answer the question from the US government about whether the<br />
Australian government plans to introduce any new policies that we do not know about?<br />
Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Education and Training) (14:20): Australia<br />
submitted its last biennial report in December 2015, as part of the UNFCCC processes of assessment against<br />
activity and actions in relation to climate change policies and the meeting of targets. In that report, Australia<br />
CHAMBER