Ian Campbell (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Heritage) Share this | Hansard source

Senator O’Brien needs to answer: does he or does he not agree with Labor leader Mark Latham, who said on the front of Christian Zahra’s private member’s bill brochure, ‘Local people deserve a say about developments that affect them. That is why I support Christian Zahra’s private member’s bill on wind farms—the Local Community Input into Renewable Energy Developments Bill.’ That was Labor Party policy at the last election. If you did not have community support, you stopped the development. A Labor government who put through Christian Zahra’s bill would have stopped the Bald Hills development, and Senator O’Brien would have actually voted for it. That I have got to say is rank hypocrisy. If you want to address the issue of the impact on coastal developments, I have got to tell you that the Labor Party policy—which has not been repealed; tell us if you have repealed this policy—that stands at the moment would have a massive impact on coastal development if you still stand by Christian Zahra’s bill; or you can get up and say that you no longer have this as your policy. It is your choice.