News Service from House Harris

Fed: Tensions boil over on climate change

CANBERRA, Feb 23 AAP - Tensions over climate change have boiled over, with an angry Nationals senator berating a senior public servant during a parliamentary hearing.

Senator Ron Boswell, concerned that emissions trading will cost jobs, lashed out at the bureaucrat after he tried to say the cement industry would not be decimated by the scheme.

"You are a bureaucrat that's never been in the market in your life," Senator Boswell barked.

"Unlike you, I have been in the market myself. I never sat behind a desk and offered gratuitous advice on how markets would work."

Senator Boswell said the bureaucrat, Dr Martin Parkinson from the Department of Climate Change, should not be overriding the concerns of steel and cement companies.

"That's the implication of what you are saying, that you know everything that's going on here and they are a bunch of idiots."

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong went on the attack herself, asking Senator Boswell if he agreed with Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull's new climate change plan, which she described as "allegedly green".

Mr Turnbull says he would cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than the government.

Senator Boswell brushed that aside.

"I'm not interested in, I'm not asking a question about Mr Turnbull," Senator Boswell replied.

Under questioning, Senator Wong revealed it was not her decision to shut down a government inquiry into emissions trading in the lower house.

"That wasn't a decision made by me," she said.

Liberal senator Eric Abetz found that interesting.

"At least we know the pecking order now. So, the treasurer advised you that that is what he was going to do," Senator Abetz said.