Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Sorry, Senator Nash; I was just in conference. I might need to get you to repeat your question in a second. Senator Milne, you asked about the groundwater. Senator Wong during the debate tabled some guidelines in relation to the establishment of trees that were amended, I believe, from earlier. Possible amendments are highlighted. They specifically deal with establishing carbon sink forests in ways that avoid any significant negative impacts on water availability, including surface water and groundwater. I think some of your concerns have been addressed in the guidelines that were tabled a little bit earlier this evening. I am not sure if you have had a chance to see them yet. They go on to say:

Compliance with this guideline should include adhering to applicable state and territory and local government land use planning legislation regarding the establishment of alternative land uses on agricultural land. Legal rights concerning carbon sequestration in carbon sink forests should be registered on the land title in accordance with state and territory governments’ legislation, and compliance with this guideline may be achieved by registration of carbon sequestration rights associated with the forest or through registration of other relevant legal arrangements that establish ownership over, and rights regarding, sequestered carbon.