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 as previous answer. Did the minister's meeting with departmental issues discuss any of the following matters—

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

There were a couple of interjections there, and I'm struggling to hear the member for Griffith anyway. I ask the member for Griffith to start again, a bit louder.

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

You don't usually ask me that!

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

I know that's unusual for me to ask anyone to speak louder.

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

Especially not me! My question is to the Minister for Energy and Emission Reduction. I refer to his previous answer. Did the minister's meeting with departmental officials discuss any of the following matters later referenced in departmental correspondence about the Threatened Species Scientific Committee: whether the environment minister could vary the listing without the committee's advice; whether the minister could act against the committee's advice; and, if the minister acted against the committee's advice, could the minister keep the reasons secret?

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

The briefing was a technical briefing with respect to a revised listing of the EPBC which had the potential to impact thousands of farmers in my electorate—their livelihoods, their wellbeing.