Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I want to thank the member for Clark for moving these amendments. I know that he has a very long and distinguished record of arguing for greater transparency and accountability in the administration of our responsibilities as a government, and I truly respect where he comes from in moving these amendments. I won't be supporting them today. I won't go into all of the details, because I think I've probably covered some of the issues in my remarks to other crossbench members who have moved amendments.

Again I would remind the member that the objects of the acts that the EPA administers are very clear: they are the expectations of improving the environment and protecting biodiversity, as well as the statement of expectations that the minister sets for the EPA. Every decision is published, and statements of reasons are available on request, so there are additional transparency measures available. Some of the issues that the member has raised are actually quite complex, technically, particularly in terms of how they relate to transitional arrangements. We are happy to continue to work with the member for Clark, through the Senate inquiry processes and beyond, to see whether there are additional areas where we can improve the arrangements; however, we will not be supporting these amendments.

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