Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

As I outlined to Senator Ludlam before—and I appreciate he has a strong view about these issues, as do a number of senators in the chamber—the issue of the granting of exploration licences is a matter for state governments. It is reasonable for the Commonwealth to assist in trying to develop better methodology and better information on how to assess the impact on groundwater, because this is an area where I think it has to be said that more work should have been done previously. In relation to the $1½ million contribution, as yet I do not believe that has commenced. I have corresponded with my counterpart in New South Wales in relation to New South Wales funding of this matter and I am awaiting confirmation of those arrangements. In relation to the issue of exploration licences, I have not been advised of any particular issue in relation to exploration licences at this point, but again I mention that that is obviously a state government matter. (Time expired)