Kylea Tink (North Sydney, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government. My community of North Sydney cares deeply for regional and rural Australia—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Kylea Tink (North Sydney, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

recognising that many in these communities are already survivors of some of the most significant severe climate events seen in the past decade.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume her seat for a moment. I want to hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is a habit from those opposite, when particular members of the crossbench rise to ask a question, of levels of abuse that do not go to other members. It's consistent, and it just happened again before our eyes.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd like to hear from the member for Warringah.

Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to raise, with concern, behaviour in terms of standing orders 90 and 91, in particular in respect to the member for Maranoa, who was very loud and who, as a leader of a party, should show leadership to his members in how he conducts himself in the parliament.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As Speaker, I believe that members should be heard in absolute silence when they're asking a question, for the supremacy of respect for the member as well as the importance of the information they're providing the House. I've been more than tolerant and fair with this process. But I'm asking all members in all parts of the chamber to respect one another when they're on their feet asking a question. You may not like what the content is, but every member is entitled to that supremacy. And there is a distinct audible noise when members of the crossbench or the non-major parties ask their questions. So I'm just asking members to show respect, and in that vein I'm going to ask the member for North Sydney to begin her question again so that she can be heard in silence, just as the Leader of the Opposition was and as a member of the government would be heard.

Kylea Tink (North Sydney, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government. My community of North Sydney cares deeply about regional and rural Australia, recognising that many in these communities are already survivors of some of the worst significant severe climate events seen in the past decade. As the minister responsible for these communities and local government, do you support the inclusion of a climate trigger as part of the approval process for future developments? Or, otherwise, what measures or protections are you arguing for to ensure that these communities are spared the impacts of worsening climate events?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, asking one minister their view about another minister's portfolio is not in order, although the question could be redirected to the appropriate minister.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. I'm just going to ask the member to rephrase the question to make sure—as the leader has said, redirecting and asking. Otherwise, another minister may have to answer the question.

Kylea Tink (North Sydney, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I continue to direct my question to the Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government. My community of North Sydney cares deeply about the development potential for regional and rural Australia. Arguably, one of the biggest challenges that regional and rural Australia is currently facing is climate change. I would like to understand: does the minister responsible for regional development have an opinion on whether a climate trigger should be included as part of the approval process for future developments, or what other measures is the minister prepared to argue for to protect regional and rural communities?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The standing orders are very clear: you simply can't ask a minister an opinion. It's not under the standing orders, so we're moving to the next question.