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Thursday, 18 August 2011
Page: 4857

Carbon Pricing

Senator MARSHALL (Victoria) (14:40): I actually have a sensible question for—

The PRESIDENT: No need to preface the question!

Senator MARSHALL: the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. Given the unprecedented rise of the Australian dollar and the fears that it has created for manufacturing, can the minister outline to the Senate what the government is doing to give workers confidence in the future?

Senator CARR (Victoria—Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) (14:40): I thank Senator Marshall for his question and his concern, a concern which is matched by the gravity of the situation that we confront today. The Australian economy is experiencing the biggest structural change in a generation, driven largely by the high dollar. The resources boom is creating a net benefit for our economy; however, it is posing serious challenges for other trade exposed sections of the economy, and firms in those sectors are responding through innovation.

Through the wailing that we have heard from the other side, their crocodile tears about manufacturing—a recently discovered concern, I might add—you would have thought by now we would have heard some policy statement from them on how they believe we should be able to help manufacturers, tourism or education providers deal with a 45 per cent increase in the movement of the exchange rate.

We are seeing considerable challenges facing our manufacturers, and we know that this is a reality that is being faced in a very difficult and sometimes painful and unavoidable transition period that is ahead of us. However, there are reasons for optimism about our ability to navigate this difficult period. As a country, we have the opportunity to choose the future we want, and we have to be prepared, as a country, to fight for it. We know there are many, many things in this country that are going well for us. In fact, we have a world-class university system. We have a world-class research system. We have well-educated people. We have advanced technical skills. We have advanced infrastructure. We have a long history of great inventions. (Time expired)

Senator MARSHALL (Victoria) (14:42): Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Does the minister have a view of the claims made by the Liberals in Victoria and repeated by Senator Ryan today that the carbon price will rip 23,000 jobs from the state's economy?

Senator CARR (Victoria—Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) (14:43): Mr Baillieu's claims, which are based on some highly dubious modelling, take no account whatsoever of the support measures that are included in the Clean Energy Future package. His latest claims are in fact in very, very sharp contrast to the Premier's statements to the Victorian parliament, where he actually supported an emissions trading scheme. It is further evidence of the extraordinary hypocrisy within the Liberal Party on the question of blue-collar jobs, and we all know that that hypocrisy is revealed for anyone who cares to see. That party has only one contribution when it comes to manufacturing workers' jobs—that is, making it easier to sack them. That is what the policy of the Liberal Party is about. We know that the Treasury modelling has predicted that the Victorian economy will grow by 30 per cent by 2020 and by 160 per cent by 2050. We are on the— (Time expired)

Senator MARSHALL (Victoria) (14:44): Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. What is the role of science and research in the transformation of the Australian economy?

Senator CARR (Victoria—Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) (14:44): Research institutions are very much at the forefront, the front line, of the transformation that is occurring. That is something that innovative companies have known for a long time. Companies like global aeronautics giant Boeing have come to parliament today to showcase what Australian research can offer. Boeing has worked with the CSIRO in Australia for more than 22 years on a vast array of projects, ranging from sustainable aviation fuels to fire retardants to aircraft mainten­ance and management to the development of new materials. In May this year the company recognised CSIRO as the supplier of the year in its global awards ceremony. That is an award based on an assessment of 17,500 suppliers to Boeing from around the globe. This is a partnership which is vital for Boeing's ongoing development and invest­ment in this country. Boeing is actually putting people on the payroll as a result of the capacity to cash in on these relationships. (Time expired)