Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

We have a problem here because Senator Colbeck is saying that he supports municipal councils in Queensland being given assistance by the Electoral Commission but he opposes municipal councils in Tasmania getting that assistance, which is quite extraordinary for a Tasmanian senator. Of course the amendments deserve support. If, as in this legislation, the government says that the people ought to have a say in amalgamations of councils in Queensland, which is about governance and people’s right to decide on governance, then surely the people ought to be able to decide whether they will have a dam which is going to totally eliminate their property or a desalination plant which is going to radically change their environment or a pulp mill which, in the case of the Tamar Valley, according to the Australian Medical Association, is going to increase the death rate of the 100,000 people living in that valley. According to the vineyard owners and many other small businesses, it is going to impact negatively on their businesses. According to the people fishing in Bass Strait, it will threaten their livelihoods and, according to many other people, it is going to be a negative for Tasmania. This includes the business roundtable report showing a $3 billion hit on other businesses. Shouldn’t people have a say about that? Senator Colbeck and the government say no. We say yes, under the same circumstances.

Then there is the government’s proposal—indeed, the Prime Minister’s proposal—for 25 nuclear power stations coming down the line. Should people not have a say on that? Senator Colbeck and the government might say: ‘No, citizens shouldn’t be supported in deciding that. On governance, yes, but on the safety of their neighbourhood, no.’ Then there is harbour dredging. Clearly the case in point at the moment is Port Phillip Bay, where there is a remarkable marine environment at stake. There is not just that but the potential for toxic metals to be lifted off the floor of the harbour and put into the bay environment. I have to part company with the government’s feeling that that is not a matter people should have a say in. It is as important as their municipal boundaries.

It is important to the people of Queensland to have a say, but it is important to people in these other cases to also have a say. This is a patent hypocrisy. It draws the political impulse that is behind this legislation right to the fore that the government can say, ‘Yes, on the matter of governance, people should be assisted to have a referendum, but when it comes to their livelihoods, neighbourhoods, businesses, wellbeing, health, ability to stay alive and so on they should not have a say.’ What nonsense. Of course we will support these amendments.