Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The words that I am going to use do not go strictly to the point that you raised. Now that you have put it on the record, I will seek further information from the minister for a reply. The current words that I am going to use I do not think go strictly to the point that you have raised, but I will get back to the Senate as soon as I can with a response for you. It may not stop you from moving the motion that you are now proposing.

In accordance with the position of seeking leave, can I add that the Northern Territory Mining Act sets out the process by which any exploration or mining in the Northern Territory must be approved; any role that the Commonwealth has in such process will be undertaken strictly in accordance with the law. The Minister for Resources and Energy has advised me that there is no application before the Commonwealth relating to mining at the Angela Pamela mine and therefore the Commonwealth has no decision to make at this point. The government therefore does not support the motion.

Question negatived.