Mr  J. BULL (Sunbury) — I am very pleased and very proud to be able to contribute to debate on the Climate Change Bill 2016. It is always very interesting to follow the member for Caulfield. I can understand why the member and those opposite are unhappy with this bill. Those members had for four years the greatest gift the people of Victoria could give them — that is, government — and did absolutely nothing; not a thing. They come into this place week in, week out, thinking they are still in government, and they lecture us on what should and should not be done. They look back on those four years with rose-coloured glasses. They were wasted, long, dark miserable years.

This government has done more in two years than those opposite could do in four. I am very pleased to be able to contribute to the debate this afternoon on the Climate Change Bill. If you look over the past 15 to 20 years, you see there have been considerable amounts of research done in this space. Much of the debate has centred around the science of climate change and the effects of carbon pollution as a direct result of humans burning fossil fuels. It was President Barack Obama who said:

Some may still deny the overwhelming judgement of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms.

We know that as time goes on more humans inhabit the earth. In mid-2016 it was estimated that the world population was 7.4 billion. The United Nations estimates that by the year 2100, 11.2 billion people will inhabit the earth. We have seen that the world population continues to grow, certainly since the Great Famine of 1315–17 and the Black Death in 1350, when it was around 370 million. All this increase in global population of course requires more in terms of our energy, and as we go through time we obviously place more and more pressure on the environment.

The global growth we have looked at and considered is certainly something that plays a very big part in relation to today’s bill. The Andrews Labor government has from day one been serious about tackling this fundamentally challenging issue, and as always we have done it in a way that is responsible, that is practical and that of course takes advice from the experts. Unlike those opposite, we trust scientists and we listen to the experts. And unlike the Greens political party we actually live in the real world. We understand that many of the jobs associated with these already established industries keep food on people’s tables. They pay mortgages. These are very important things, certainly for my community in Sunbury and I know for the member for Macedon’s community. It is always such a joy to listen to those in the Greens political party lecturing the government about all of these measures, although they come in here, week in and week out, and do not do a thing for working people or to support these people in jobs. This is incredibly disappointing on their part.

Our policy has been based on three key pillars — renewable energy, energy efficiency and combating the effects of climate change. When in government those opposite, as I said, did absolutely nothing. They took us backwards, and not once did they look forward. Still to this day they cannot arrive at a position on climate change. I heard the member for Mordialloc talk about the events of the last week. It starts at the top; it is always about leadership. If you look at the Prime Minister, he has always talked a big game on climate change and on taking real action, but since becoming the Prime Minister he has walked away from that position. He is hamstrung by the right — —

Ms Thomas — The hard right run the Liberal Party these days.

Mr J. BULL — The member for Macedon is correct: it is because the hard right runs the Liberal Party these days. If we look at the Australian, just recently it published an article headed ‘Cory Bernardi slams Liberal’s carbon pricing on power companies idea’, which states, and I quote:

A group of ‘nervous’ coalition MPs could support a type of carbon pricing on power companies if it reduces electricity costs, says Liberal MP Craig Kelly, as his colleague Cory Bernardi slams the idea as ‘one of the dumbest things I have ever heard’.

Disunity has broken out within the coalition after the government released its terms of reference for a highly anticipated review of climate change policies, which has left open the possibility of applying an emissions intensity scheme to the electricity sector.

But South Australian cabinet minister Christopher Pyne flatly rejected the concept and Senator Bernardi questioned why the government would ‘reopen a cauterised wound that had healed’.

Ms Thomas — Who runs the Liberal Party?

Mr J. BULL — Who does run the Liberal Party? The article continues to quote Senator Bernardi:

‘It will not lower prices and is not in the national interest’ …

Senator Bernardi said any emissions trading scheme or form of carbon pricing was ‘economic suicide’.

‘It’s like ripping a scab off an old wound’ …

This goes to the heart of the issue: that those over on the other side are split on this issue and they have never been able to arrive at a position — not once have they been able to get there.

An honourable member interjected.

Mr J. BULL — I do not doubt that the Prime Minister has very good intentions in this space.

Ms Thomas — Do you?

Mr J. BULL — I think the Prime Minister actually went in — —

Ms Thomas — That is very generous of you.

Mr J. BULL — It is very generous, but I do think he may have gone in thinking — —

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Crisp) — Order! It is now time to break for lunch. The member for Sunbury will have the call when we resume after lunch.

Sitting suspended 1.00 p.m. until 2.02 p.m.

Mr J. BULL — As I was saying before lunch, those opposite do not have a policy position in this place. For four long, dark, wasted, lonely, miserable years, they were a rudderless ship. It was like National Lampoon’s Vacation, watching them head up the highway with absolutely no idea about where they were going, and it comes from the top — it is leadership from the top. This is the problem the Prime Minister has. This is a problem at a federal level, and it ripples right through at a state level, and these are the issues that they face in this space.

The Andrews Labor government understands that Victoria can act on climate change — and Victoria will act. As I mentioned before lunch, this bill commits to our long-term target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, consistent with the international commitments of the Paris agreement. The bill also allows for rolling interim targets.

Honourable members interjecting.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Ms McLeish) — Order! Members should keep the tone down.

Mr J. BULL — These will allow the economy to smoothly transition into a low carbon future. Thanks for the support, as always, from the other side!

These reforms are necessary. They are important reforms and we want to achieve an orderly transition aligned to the global objectives for our economy, our society, and to help us sustain and support those who are already feeling the effects of climate change.

It is fantastic to see members of the government so passionate about this bill and so passionate about my contribution. Can I just say I am incredibly proud — so very proud — of our record in this space, of the renewable energy target of 25 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025, with an estimated 4000 jobs at the peak of construction; the kickstart of the growth of sustainable jobs through the $20 million New Energy Jobs Fund; and of course we have launched our solar for life-saving clubs program. This is fantastic news right across this space.

Also, the Andrews Labor government is very proud that we have given renters the power to access solar energy and have lower power bills, and we have wound back the previous government’s onerous wind energy laws, which is certainly something that I have spoken a lot with the member for Macedon about, and it is something that she has been working very hard on. We have also saved and strengthened the energy savings bill and reduced the Victorian energy efficiency target scheme, a scheme that supports at least 2000 jobs.

I am very pleased to be able to contribute to debate on this bill. I understand there are a number of members who also want to make contributions, so I will wind up very shortly. Before I do, can I commend the minister for her tireless efforts in this space, her vision and her determination to see renewable energy evolve and see energy efficiency improve through new technologies and create jobs. Victorians understand one thing — that is, this Andrews Labor government gets on and delivers for each and every Victorian. I commend the bill to the house.