Mr NEVILLE —My question is addressed to the Minister for Science and Technology. Minister, will you acquaint the House of the most recent scientific assessments of the impact of greenhouse gas emissions prepared by eminent authorities?

Mr McGAURAN —I thank the member for Hinkler for his question. Representing, as he does, the city of Gladstone, he has a vital interest in all matters greenhouse. There is a great deal of misinformation and at times hysteria, often deliberately manufactured, about the issue of climate change. The government has always accepted that the balance of scientific evidence suggests the earth's average temperature is increasing, thereby causing the climate to change. We do not, however, accept wild doomsday predictions based on faulty or non-existent science—to do so would be to sell out Australia and Australian jobs.

We instead rely in the formulation of policy on credible scientific data. The latest estimates on the consequences of greenhouse emissions by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—IPCC, which was set up jointly by the World Meteorological Organisation and the United Nations Environment Program and represents the views of several hundred recognised experts from around the world—are that temperatures have risen between 0.3 and 0.6 degrees Centigrade since the last century and are expected to rise by about two degrees by the year 2100—more than a hundred years from now.

Mr Kerr —You are giving the bottom of the range.

Mr SPEAKER —Order!

Mr McGAURAN —Interestingly, this is about one-third lower than the best estimate made in 1990. At the same time, global sea level has risen by between 10 and 25 centimetres over the last 120 years and is expected to increase by about 50 centimetres again by the year 2100.

Mr Kerr —You are misleading us.

Mr SPEAKER —Order! The member for Denison!

Mr Kerr —He is being misleading.

Mr McGAURAN —This is 25 per cent lower than the best estimate in 1990. There are still considerable uncertainties in these estimates and more work is required on greenhouse gas sources and sinks and on understanding the climate system—clouds, oceans, sea ice and vegetation.

Mr Kerr —He is quoting the document out of context.

Mr McGAURAN —However, the figures do show that, whilst there is indeed climate change due to human activity—

Mr Kerr —He is giving the bottom of the range of figures.

Mr McGAURAN —the predictions are considerably more modest than a few years ago.

Mr Kerr —Hey, Kemp, you should give him a lesson about numeracy.

Mr SPEAKER —I warn the member for Denison.

Mr McGAURAN —Whatever the precise impacts of climate change, the government believes we must act in a precautionary and prudent way. For this reason we are making domestic progress in preventing significant emissions that would otherwise have occurred. It is vital that greenhouse be addressed scien tifically, professionally and objectively—it must be credible. Only then are you going to secure the support of all nations to achieve abatement of greenhouse gases. Exaggerations and distortions, which are the stock in trade of the opposition, may suit their political agenda but will surely damage world resolve to tackle greenhouse gas emissions.