Ms GILLARD (Lalor—Prime Minister) (14:20): I thank the member for La Trobe for her question and for her concern about tackling climate change here in this parliament on behalf of her constituents. Yesterday Prime Minister Key from New Zealand came to Canberra and he proved something that can often be forgotten in this House of Representatives, which is that it is possible to be a conservative and to have policies and plans for your nation's future. It is actually possible to do that. We do not see any evidence of that on the opposition frontbench. The Prime Minister of New Zealand came to Canberra yesterday and demonstrated that it is possible to be a conservative and to have plans for the future. It is possible to be a conservative and to be up to tackling the challenge of climate change. New Zealand is tackling the challenge of climate change by pricing carbon. Mr Robb interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for Goldstein! Ms GILLARD: As fond as we are of our family in New Zealand, I do not believe that self-respecting Australians want to see New Zealand up to doing something that we do not do. Mr Robb interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for Goldstein is warned. Ms GILLARD: I believe that we are confident and creative people. We are very fond of our New Zealand friends, but we are up to doing the same measures that they have done to deal with climate change and that means pricing carbon. I do not want to see our nation stand idle while the world passes us by and deals with a clean energy future. I certainly do not want to see New Zealand get in front of us, which is why we need to move to price carbon. Pricing carbon will accelerate our embrace of a clean energy future. What will that mean? On the weekend, I had the opportunity with the relevant minister, Minister Ferguson, to see what that would mean in the electorate of Newcastle and beyond. We saw, for example, the solar thermal technology at the CSIRO in Newcastle using the power of the sun to generate the energy we need for the future. The government were very pleased and very proud to be able to announce that we will support major solar developments in Queensland near Chinchilla and in New South Wales in Moree, new solar developments that will get us the clean energy of the future. Pricing carbon is all about accelerating these clean energy developments. It ultimately comes down to a choice. It is a choice that needs to be made by leaders on behalf of the nation, the kind of policy choice that leaders need to confront. Do you believe climate change is real? I do, and the Leader of the Opposition does not. Do you believe that we need to cut carbon pollution? I do, and the Leader of the Opposition does not. Do you believe we should do that in the most efficient way that we can? I do, and the Leader of the Opposition does not. Do you believe that big polluters should bear the price? I do, and the Leader of the Opposition does not. Do you believe we should assist Australian families? I do, and the Leader of the Opposition does not. Opposition members interjecting— Ms GILLARD: The Leader of the Opposition stands for taking money from Australian families and giving it to big polluters. That is the difference. Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER: I expect the Chief Opposition Whip to show an example. I cannot believe it. If so many members are so disengaged from what is going on, please do me a favour and leave. There is an expectation, if you are remaining in the chamber, that you sit there quietly.