Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill and seek leave to move government amendments (1) to (6) as circulated together.

Leave granted.

I move government amendments (1) to (6):

(1) Schedule 1, items 20 and 21, page 10 (line 26) to page 11 (line 4), omit the items, substitute:

20 Application

  The amendments made by this Schedule apply in relation to an action involving coal seam gas development or large coal mining development that is taken on or after the day this item commences, even if the action began before that time, unless:

  (a) item 22 of this Schedule applies in relation to the taking of the action; or

  (b) the Minister decides, under item 23 of this Schedule, that sections 24D and 24E of the new law are not controlling provisions for the action.

(2) Schedule 1, item 22, page 11 (lines 7 to 13), omit subitem (1), substitute:

(1) The amendments made by this Schedule do not apply in relation to the taking of an action by a person involving coal seam gas development or large coal mining development if:

  (a) immediately before the day this item commences, any of the circumstances set out in subitem (2) were satisfied in relation to the action and the person; or

  (b) immediately before 13 March 2013, the circumstance set out in subitem (2A) was satisfied in relation to the action and the person.

(3) Schedule 1, item 22, page 11 (line 14), omit "subitem (1)", substitute "paragraph (1)(a)".

(4) Schedule 1, item 22, page 11 (lines 24 to 33), omit paragraphs (2)(d) and (e), substitute:

  (d) both:

     (i) the Minister has informed the persons mentioned in paragraph 131AA(1)(a) of the old law of the decision the Minister proposes to make in relation to the action; and

     (ii) the Minister has, as required by section 131AB of the old law, obtained advice from the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development in relation to the action;

(5) Schedule 1, item 22, page 11 (after line 35), after subitem (2), insert:

  (2A) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), the circumstance is that none of the provisions of Part 3 of the old law were controlling provisions for the action and an appropriate Minister of a declared State or Territory has, under paragraph 505D(1)(b) of the old law, obtained advice from the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development in relation to the action for the purposes of giving a specific environment authorisation for the action under a State or Territory law.

(6) Schedule 1, item 23, page 13 (line 4), before "advice", insert "the Minister had not informed the persons mentioned in paragraph 131AA(1)(a) of the old law of the decision the Minister proposes to make in relation to the action or".

The proposed amendments to the bill would make a technical change to ensure that the prohibitions in the bill would not apply where the minister decides that a project will not have a significant impact on a water resource. They clarify that an exemption from the new trigger will apply if a state obtained advice from the Independent Expert Scientific Committee before the introduction of the bill on 13 March and will not overlap with the related exemptions for independent expert scientific advice to the Commonwealth minister. They clarify that an exemption related to the Commonwealth minister obtaining advice from the Independent Expert Scientific Committee will apply where that advice is considered at the proposed decision stage and after a comprehensive assessment. These minor amendments are proposed in response to stakeholder feedback on the bill and further technical review. These proposed amendments would give better effect to the intent of the bill.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition accepts these amendments in good faith on the basis that they make the transitional arrangements for 52 projects currently under assessment easier to progress. This bill has been confused and chaotic, and we are amazed and surprised that the government made such a hash of the drafting. It is consistent with other legislative failures, whether in relation to the media bills or certain fisheries bills which have essentially had to be withdrawn and redrafted on the fly and on the run. It is indicative of the general approach to legislative chaos which has been shown by this government. We are pleased that they are fixing up the mistakes they have made in a bill which was only introduced in the last few days. Having said that, we do not want to stand in the way of minor improvements.

Andrew Leigh (Fraser, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendments be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

Tony Windsor (New England, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move amendments (1) and (2) as circulated in my name together:

(1) Schedule 1, page 7 (after line 23), after item 3, insert:

3A Subsection 29(1)

  After "Part 3", insert ", other than section 24D or 24E,".

(2) Schedule 1, page 7 (after line 25), after item 4, insert:

4A At the end of subsection 46(1)

  Add ", other than section 24D or 24E".

4B Subsections 46(2) and (2A)

  After "Part 3", insert ", other than section 24D or 24E,".

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendments moved by the member for New England be agreed to.

Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, to assist the House, and given that others have arrived here, the Greens will move our amendments in the Senate. I will not move them here today.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We sincerely thank the member for Melbourne for his consideration this afternoon.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.