Interview with Michael Rowland, ABC News Breakfast

MICHAEL ROWLAND, HOST: The climate change Minister Chris Bowen joins us now, Minister. Good morning. Firstly, how are those negotiations with the Greens going?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, good morning, Michael. But first things first, I'm introducing the bill today. It's a good bill. It's an important bill, the Australian people voted for action on climate change on May 21 and now the Parliament has a chance to vote for action. It enshrines our targets in law, holds us accountable, empowers the Climate Change Authority, all the things that we said we would do. 

In relation to discussions across the Parliament, I've been having those in good faith with people who want to interact in good faith with the Government. Those discussions have been based on the principle that we've outlined publicly the Prime Minister and I very clearly that we sought and received a mandate to do these things, sensible, good faith suggestions to make things clearer, to make things more explicit, we have taken on board. We have had those and they'll keep going. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to have any good faith discussions with the leader of the Opposition, because he's declared himself irrelevant to the process. He hasn't seen the bill, hasn't been to his shadow cabinet, hasn't been to his party room, but he's against it. But that's okay. We're getting on with it. We'll get on with the job of negotiating this through the Parliament, steering it through the Parliament. That's what a sensible Government of grown-ups does. And of course, we've been getting on with it anyway. We've already notified the UN of our target, we've reinvigorated ARENA, we've issued regulations, reducing the amount of sulphur in our petrol, we're moving to clean up carbon credits, and make sure that that's appropriate and seem to be appropriate. So we’re getting on with that job but this legislation is important, because it sends the message to investors that Australia is open for business, that we will have one framework for investment. And that's 43% and net zero, and that policy is enshrined in law. 

MICHAEL ROWLAND: Okay. You mentioned mandate, we had the Greens Leader, Adam Bandt on the program yesterday, I'm going to play you his idea of how the post-election mandate works and get your response:

BANDT: “You've got roughly, you know, roughly a third of the country voted for the Government a bit less, roughly a third voted for the opposition, and roughly a third voted for someone else. And it's incumbent on us in this Parliament if people are talking about questions of mandates, to recognize that power is now shared, especially in the Senate. And we've all got to work together. And that means everyone giving a bit.”

MICHAEL ROWLAND: Okay, what do you make of that Chris Bowen?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, Adam, of course, has a position as Greens Leader, and I respect that position, he is entitled to put it forward. But we are equally clear, we sought and received a very clear mandate. I mean, this wasn't a policy we announced, you know, late in the election campaign. We announced it very early, very detailed, comprehensively debated right across the country. We won a majority in the House of Representatives, and we intend to implement that mandate. 

But as I said, Michael, a sensible Government of grownups talks to people of good faith, and works on those things and concentrates on those things where we can agree. And I've been doing that with the Greens, with the Crossbenchers. And, you know, I thank the independents and crossbenchers for their engagement, I don't thank the Liberal Party for their engagement, because under Peter Dutton, there hasn't been any, because he has ruled himself out have sensible discussions, which reminds me, tells me it's the same old Liberal Party, they didn't get the memo. You can change the letter from Morrison to Dutton, but they just don't get action on climate change. 

MICHAEL ROWLAND: Okay, the Financial Review is this morning reporting. If negotiations drag on and you don't get anywhere with the Greens, the Government will be simply prepared to walk away from the climate bill, is that correct?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, look, Michael, we've been very clear that this legislation is not essential, it's desirable, it's best practice, we've already notified the UN of our target. So we don't-- we can, if you'd like to use those terms, walk away if absolutely essential, but that's not our intention. Our intention is to work cooperatively across the Parliament for good climate laws. That's our intention. We're happy to do that. I'm introducing the bill today. That's what we'll be arguing for in the Parliament. That's what we'll be seeking to pass. As I said, we're getting on with it anyway. We've been very clear from Opposition. I said this, you know, on the ABC, when I was Shadow Minister for Climate Change, we don't need this legislation, but it is best practice. And that's why we believe as a Government, Australia should be best practice. As I said, the Australian people voted for action on climate change. And I think this is a really important opportunity for the Parliament as a whole to show the people; we all got the memo. We're acting on climate change.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: Chris Bowen, appreciate your time this morning. Thank you. 

CHRIS BOWEN: Good on you Michael