Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. I refer to the minister's previous answer and I ask again: was a compliance officer present at the meeting?

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I dealt with this in the previous question. This was not a discussion about a compliance action. Let's be clear: the discussion was about the impact of a revised listing on farmers in my electorate. There were two affected electorates: my electorate and my neighbour's electorate. I care about the farmers in my electorate. I will always act in their interest, because that is my job.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Griffith.

Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, I'm sorry—the member for Griffith can wait. No-one else jumped. There's no 'no'. I'm not going to start randomly asking people to jump for a question. No-one else jumped. The call alternates. I looked to the government side; I looked to the opposition side and one person jumped, and I've called the member for Griffith.

Opposition members interjecting—

Members on my left are now delaying the member for Griffith. The member for Griffith will begin her question again.

Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. I refer to his previous answer. When seeking the assistance of the Treasurer to arrange a meeting with departmental officials about critically endangered grasslands in the Monaro region, did he disclose his personal interest in the matter?

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have always disclosed my personal interests—any interest—that may have an impact on my role. I have been clear about that. That's my job, and I do it all the time. As I said, at this meeting that the member opposite refers to, I received a briefing from departmental officials on technical aspects of this revised listing. But I would point out that, since then, an independent review by Wendy Craik, released only about a month ago, has found that there have been major deficiencies in how the act is understood and, in particular, how farmers are dealt with. I'm pleased that this review specifically identified the very issues that I have previously raised and that were raised in this meeting, because I will always act in the interests of farmers. Perhaps those opposite could learn a little bit from that.