Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

(1)

That the Senate notes that at the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh in September 2009, the Prime Minister (Mr Rudd) agreed to ‘phase out and rationalise over the medium term inefficient fossil fuel subsidies while providing targeted support for the poorest’ and further that the Prime Minister also agreed to report back to the G20 on how to implement this commitment.

(2)

That there be laid on the table by 10 am on 17 June 2010, any document that the Government provided to the meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors at Busan, Korea, on 5 June and 6 June 2010, regarding the commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, including:

(a)

the implementation plans for the phase out as required by the commitment, including any assessment of the nature and size of fossil fuels subsidies in Australia; and

(b)

any advice from the department to the minister in relation to these implementation plans and how the Government seeks to define ‘fossil fuel subsidy’.

Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a very brief statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for two minutes.

Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Milne’s motion is opposed by the government. We recognise that she has the support of the coalition and therefore has a majority in the chamber and we will not be calling a division.

Question agreed to.