Extract from Australian Parliamentary Hansard Page 2824, 2002
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Environment: Kyoto Protocol
Mr KELVIN THOMSON (2.00 p.m.)—My question is to the Prime Minister. On World Environment Day, is the Prime Minister
aware of last week’s ratification of the Kyoto protocol on climate change by the European Union and yesterday’s
ratification by Japan? Given the Prime Minister’s statement that the government is committed to meeting Australia’s 2010
Kyoto target for greenhouse gas emissions, isn’t it in Australia’s interests to ratify the Kyoto protocol, thereby
helping to ensure that other countries meet their targets and enabling Australian industry to benefit from emissions
trading and other flexibility mechanisms under the protocol?
Mr HOWARD—I thank the honourable member for his question. It is not in Australia’s interests to ratify the Kyoto
protocol. The reason it is not in Australia’s interests to ratify the Kyoto protocol is that, because the arrangements
currently exclude— and are likely under present settings to continue to exclude —both developing countries and the
United States, for us to ratify the protocol would cost us jobs and damage our industry. That is why the Australian
government will continue to oppose ratification. You cite the example of Japan. Japan is a massive energy importer;
Australia is a massive net exporter of energy. One of the things that makes Australia almost unique in this context is
that as a developed country we are a major net exporter of energy. The idea that you can sign up to a protocol that
would facilitate the export of dirty industries from this country into developing countries and thereby facilitate the
flight of jobs from this country— Mr Crean interjecting—
The SPEAKER—The Leader of the Opposition! The Prime Minister has the call.
Mr HOWARD—It amazes me that a Labor Party that claims, from time to time, to represent the interests of the working men
and women of this country would sign up to an arrangement that would hurt this country. As with so many things—indeed as
with all things—this government will continue above everything else to assert the Australian national interest.
Wednesday, 5 June 2002 REPRESENTATIVES P 2825 The Australian national interest does not lie in ratifying Kyoto: that is
why we are opposed to it.
Dr Lawrence interjecting—
The SPEAKER—The member for Fremantle is aware that the chair has never denied her the right to the call when the
standing orders offer it.
Honourable members—Hear, hear!