Russell Matheson (Macarthur, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the Prime Minister tell the House the level of carbon tax to be paid by steelmakers in China?

A government member: That's out of order!

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Whether the question is in order or not I will answer it. To the member who asked the question: China is undertaking actions to reduce the emissions intensity of its economy. Before the Leader of the Opposition and his friends start braying about this let us remember that they too are committed to reducing carbon pollution in this country by minus five per cent by 2020 so, like the government, they have committed to a carbon pollution reduction target. To the member who asked this question: the Leader of the Opposition only uses this argument on the days he is at community groups denying the minus five per cent target.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, a point of order on relevance: the question specifically asked what the level was of carbon tax to be paid by steelmakers in China.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Prime Minister will directly relate her material to the question.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the House for giving me the direct quote I was just referring to. I am asked about international arrangements, I am asked about China, and this question can only be relevant to this House if it relates to a public policy decision of the Australian government. That is carbon pricing. I am making the very simple point that the Leader of the Opposition only uses arguments about China on the days that he is at community groups and he is denying the minus five per cent target. For example, at a seniors forum on 18 July he said—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Prime Minister will relate her material to the question.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

'And the other crazy thing about it at this same time that our country is proposing to reduce emissions by five per cent, just five per cent, the Chinese are proposing to increase their emissions by 500 per cent.' The Leader of the Opposition was out using this China example to decry a minus five per cent target.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Prime Minister will bring her response to a close.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Then, when he is blogging on Mamamia and he thinks people might be interested in climate change, he is out there saying the opposition accepts a minus five per cent target.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Prime Minister will bring her response to a close.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This question is indicative of a Leader of the Opposition and an opposition generally that cannot be taken seriously on public policy, that will do or say anything on any given day, that will—

Russell Matheson (Macarthur, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: it is a very simple question that I asked and it is not being answered.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order because, under the standing orders, that point of order can only be raised once. I simply say to the House that inserting the word 'China' into the answer might have meant you got away with it if it was under the relevance rule. If we in this parliament have done anything by changing it to 'directly relevant', there has to be a different type of answer. I invite the Prime Minister to conclude her answer. Prime Minister.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the question of international action and China, when the Leader of the Opposition is talking to a different audience, then he is a big supporter of the minus five per cent target. If you are going to be taken seriously in this country on public policy, you have to be prepared to say the same thing on every occasion.