QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:57): Thank you, Senator. I would make a few points. The first point I'd make about our commitments to reduce emissions is that we are making commitments as a country because we recognise the economic imperative of transforming our economy in the context where so much of the global economy is doing the same thing.

I appreciate, Senator, that you and I simply will not agree on this. We see the imperative to transform our economy and take advantage of the opportunity that renewable energy brings. We see what is happening across the world, and we want to ensure that Australia has the opportunity to continue to be a prosperous and strong nation in that context.

We simply have a different view on why, as a country, we should not turn our backs on climate change. We should not turn our backs on renewable energy, and, frankly, we should not turn our backs on facts. The facts are that the world is moving.

The facts are that coal-fired power is declining in this country. Twenty-four out of 28 coal-fired power stations announced they were closing under the coalition. That gives us a very clear view about what the transition is.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Roberts, first supplementary?