Doorstop Interview
Brisbane
28 November 2009
SUBJECTS: CPRS; Hockey on CPRS; Liberal leadership
TREASURER:
The Australian community wants strong and decisive action on climate change. They are crying out for action on climate change and we don't need any opinion polls to tell us that. So I've got a very simple message today particularly for Joe Hockey – don't sell out to the climate change deniers and climate change sceptics in the Liberal Party just for leadership. What Australia needs is leadership from all our political parties for strong action on climate change for the long term.
Australia is one of the hottest and driest continents on Earth - that's why we need action now for the long term. Particularly here in South-east Queensland, but right around the country, weather patterns are changing. The problem is the climate change dinosaurs in the Liberal and National Parties simply don't get it. They're blind to the impact of climate change and they're not willing to face up to the long-term challenges that this country is facing.
JOURNALIST:
Do you think it is a foregone conclusion Mr Swan, that Mr Turnbull will be gone?
TREASURER:
Look I'm not going to buy into the internals of the Liberal Party leadership. It's in Australia's national interest for all our political leaders to face up to the challenge of climate change. It's a long-term economic and environmental challenge for the nation. We need action now because the cost of inaction is far greater and the price will be paid by our children and their grandchildren. It's in Australia's national interest for political parties and political leaders to recognise the reality and not be dominated by extremists and climate change sceptics. And unfortunately it appears extremists and climate change sceptics have the numbers in the Liberal and National Parties, and I think you will be seeing that in Maroochydore today. But as someone who has lived in south-east Queensland all of my life, weather patterns are changing. Political leadership needs to face the reality. It's just sad that the Liberal and National Parties are dominated by climate change sceptics and extremists, many of whom are gathering in Maroochydore today.
JOURNALIST:
Going into an election, who do you think would be tougher to face - Malcolm Turnbull, Tony Abbott or Joe Hockey?
TREASURER:
Well, it's not just a question of who's leading the Liberal Party, it's a question of what does the Liberal Party stand for? And what we're seeing at the moment is the Liberal Party is being dominated by climate change sceptics and extremists. And that's why my message to Joe Hockey is pretty simple – don't sell out to the climate change deniers and sceptics, keep your word. A couple of days ago you said it was in the national interest to do something about climate change and to support the CPRS. Well don't sell out for your own selfish political interests on climate change.
JOURNALIST:
Are you preparing for an early election?
TREASURER:
No we're not. The last thing the Government wants is an election. What the Government wants is the swift passage of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.
JOURNALIST:
How disappointing will it be to go to Copenhagen without it?
TREASURER:
Well Australia needs the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme now because business demands certainty, and because we need to demonstrate to the world - as the hottest and driest continent on earth - that we are taking action. How can we expect everybody else to take action when a country which is so dramatically affected by climate change is unwilling to take any step to deal with this long-term challenge?
JOURNALIST:
Why not take advantage of the chaos in the Opposition and go early?
TREASURER:
Because we're interested in the national interests. What we're looking to is a long-term reform which will secure our future. Acting now on climate change makes sense economically, it makes sense environmentally. What we need is the climate change dinosaurs in the Liberal Party to recognise that we have to deal with this challenge. But unfortunately they're not up to the challenge of protecting and standing for our national interest.
