Mark Furner (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

And you are a ratbag and a fool.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! There is starting to be discussion across the chamber. Senator Furner, would you continue with your remarks and other senators cease to interject.

There are other matters that are able to be considered. Things like Indigenous cultural activities, ceremonies, harvesting of bush food, medicines and the enjoyment of native title are permitted and unaffected. Outstation development can continue. Recreational boat users can continue to use the rivers and creeks. Mining, grazing and irrigation cont­inue today without the declaration of wild rivers areas. Regarding new developments up in the cape, over 100 applications that have been submitted and we are working through those.

The evidence out there does not suggest that the wild rivers scheme has blocked development on the cape; to the contrary, the scheme has led to successful Indigenous ranger programs. Real jobs have been creat­ed in terms of rangers in that area, jobs which could be lost if this amendment has its passage through this chamber. In fact, the amendment, interestingly, goes to a part­icular matter in terms of—