Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Chair. I will do so now. I thank the minister and the opposition spokesperson on this issue. Remarkably unsatisfactory as those contributions were, I nonetheless thank you for at least putting them on the record. Minister, I put to you that the reason these issues have not been addressed is that they are not explicitly mentioned, and that is all I was seeking to do. Without wanting to draw the debate out any further, I will put the amendments now. I seek leave to move the three amendments together.

Leave granted.

I move:

(1)    Schedule 1, page 6 (after line 6), after item 22, insert:

22A  At the end of section 9

Add:

        (3)    An instrument approving a project with a value exceeding $200 million is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of section 46B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

(2)    Schedule 1, page 6 (after line 8), after item 23, insert:

23A  Section 11

Before “The”, insert “(1)”.

23B  At the end of section 11

Add:

        (2)    The matters to which the Minister must have regard in deciding whether it is appropriate to approve a project with a value exceeding $50 million include, but are not limited to, the following matters:

             (a)    the results of the Environmental Impact Assessment;

             (b)    the results of an assessment of the economic and social costs or benefits of the project;

             (c)    the alternatives to the development;

             (d)    the extent to which energy price sensitivity has bearing on the project.

        (3)    Before approving a project with a value exceeding $50 million, the Minister must cause to be tabled in each House of the Parliament a statement of reasons for the Minister’s decision to approve the project, addressing at a minimum the matters set out in subsection (2).

(3)    Schedule 1, page 6 (after line 12), after item 25, insert:

25A  Paragraph 13(1)(d)

Omit “.”, substitute “; and”.

25B  At the end of subsection 13(1)

Add:

             (e)    include any statement of reasons provided pursuant to subsection 11(3).

Question put:

That the amendments (Senator Ludlam’s) be agreed to.