George Campbell (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement about the motion.

Leave granted.

Labor welcomes grassroots political activity such as that demonstrated by the 10,000 demonstrators referred to in this motion. However, Labor opposes this motion as it is merely an act of political sabotage rather than a genuine attempt to advance the debate on the proposed pulp mill. The government has established an environmental assessment process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 for the proposed pulp mill near Launceston. The government has committed to achieving balanced environmental, economic and social outcomes and using due process and great thoroughness in the assessment of the pulp mill proposal. Senator Bob Brown is attempting to muddy the waters with regard to the proposed pulp mill with this motion. Senator Bob Brown wants to debate issues that are not related to the environmental assessment process that the government is undertaking. Instead, Senator Bob Brown wants to sidetrack the debate so that he can fight against the proposed pulp mill on a purely emotional basis rather than on the basis of informed judgements based on environmental studies. Labor opposes the motion. However Labor has always supported grassroots participation in the political process and will continue to do so in the future. Senator Bob Brown’s motion has nothing to do with grassroots politics and everything to do with distorting the true debate.