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Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Page: 30

Mr RUDD (2:44 PM) —My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister now confirm that the theme of his non-existent climate change advertising campaign is currently ‘climate clever’? Will the Prime Minister confirm that the theme to this campaign may now be changed? What would that cost, the ditching of this theme and replacing it with another?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —I remind the House that the budget brought down by the Treasurer several weeks ago included $741 million of new measures to address climate change. On the subject of climate change, this week—for those who are genuinely interested in the climate change debate—this nation will receive the most comprehensive and authentic report on the issue of emissions trading and, unlike the Australian Labor Party, we will not be relying on foreign reports in order to frame our climate change policy.

Mr Tanner interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Melbourne is warned!

Mr HOWARD —We do not borrow European solutions. Those who sit opposite find something amusing about my reference to foreign reports. Let me remind them and let me remind those in the Australian public who are interested in this issue that the following figures highlight the folly of any side of politics in this country relying on a Eurocentric version of climate change in order to frame policy. According to an analysis of all of the exports of the OECD, those exports comprise about 62 per cent—

Mr Albanese —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. This was a very specific question about his advertising campaign and whether it will change from the theme of ‘climate clever’ to something else.

The SPEAKER —The member will come straight to his point of order or resume his seat.

Mr Albanese —Standing order 104, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER —The member will resume his seat. I have been listening carefully. The Prime Minister was asked a question about climate change. He is in order. I call the Prime Minister.

Mr HOWARD —What these figures show is that, for the total OECD area—that is, all the developed nations of the world—manufacturing exports comprised 62 per cent of total exports and resource exports comprised only eight per cent. The corresponding figures for Australia are manufacturing exports—

Mr Garrett —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. The question was specifically about an advertising campaign. Ask the Prime Minister to address that—

The SPEAKER —The member will resume his seat. I have ruled on that point. The Prime Minister is in order. I call the Prime Minister.

Mr HOWARD —Let me repeat that, for the total OECD area, manufacturing exports comprised 62 per cent of total exports, resource exports comprised only eight per cent and the corresponding figures for Australia were, for manufacturing exports, 16 per cent and, for resource exports, 37 per cent.

Mr Rudd —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. The question was: will the Prime Minister now confirm that the theme—

The SPEAKER —The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to raise a point of order he may raise a point of order, but he will not repeat his question.

Mr Rudd —Mr Speaker, under standing order 104 there is not one element of the question—

The SPEAKER —The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. I have already ruled on that point.

Mr Abbott —Mr Speaker, on the point of order, this is plainly deliberate disruption of the parliament orchestrated by the Leader of the Opposition and it should be dealt with.

The SPEAKER —Order! I have ruled on the point of order. The Prime Minister is in order and the Prime Minister will be heard.

Mr HOWARD —Let me continue talking about climate change, which I thought was one of the—

Ms Kate Ellis —You are not answering the question about advertising.

The SPEAKER —The member for Adelaide is warned!

Mr HOWARD —stellar policies of the opposition. The point of those figures is that, whereas the total OECD area—and this is fundamental to how you handle emissions trading in this country—has exports from the resource sector comprising only eight per cent, for Australia it is 37 per cent. It is therefore supreme folly for either side of politics to embrace a policy which is derived from an essentially Eurocentric view of the world. When the report, which I commissioned in December of last year, is released—it will be handed to me on Thursday—I will have in my possession the most comprehensive analysis ever carried out in Australia on the central issue to the whole climate change debate. What this government intends to do is to know the consequences of targets before we set them.

Mr Snowdon interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Lingiari is warned!

Mr HOWARD —We do not intend to embrace the Labor Party’s approach—that is, to set a target without knowing what it means and then scramble around to get some advice about the consequence of that target. We do not intend to put the cart before the horse.

Mr Albanese —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. Under standing order 104, the Prime Minister has now spoken for 10 minutes—

The SPEAKER —I have ruled on that. The member will resume his seat.

Mr Albanese —Mr Speaker—

The SPEAKER —I warn the member for Grayndler! That point of order has been responded to. I have ruled on the point of order.

Mr Albanese —Mr Speaker, on what basis was I warned? 

The SPEAKER —I made it very clear that the Prime Minister was in order, and after several points of order he will be heard. Members will not continue to interrupt when the Prime Minister is giving an answer.

Mr Albanese —Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister continued to talk about exports and—

The SPEAKER —If the member reflects on the chair, I will deal with him.

Mr Albanese —I am not, Mr Speaker. It is legitimate to move a point of order under standing orders.

The SPEAKER —The Manager of Opposition Business is reflecting on the chair. He will remove himself under standing order 94(a).

The member for Grayndler then left the chamber.

Mr HOWARD —One aspect of dealing with climate change—

Mr Crean —An absolute shocker!

The SPEAKER —The member for Hotham is warned!

Mr HOWARD —is the behaviour of individuals, households and business enterprises and the way in which they can take practical steps to reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions and, surely, I would say useful information that helps them do so could also make a contribution. When the Leader of the Opposition first asked me a question—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Jagajaga!

Mr HOWARD —about this issue on 23 May—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Jagajaga is warned!

Mr HOWARD —I said that the government reserves the right to engage in a public information campaign on climate change and associated matters. I said that on 23 May, and I have constantly referred to that answer in subsequent answers. That remains the position. I would say to the Leader of the Opposition—through you, Sir—that if particular material is produced on such an important topic I would expect it would be practical, informative and helpful to the wider community. It remains the case that no material has yet been approved for distribution.