Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I indicate my support for Senator Milne's amendments. I think they are very sensible amendments. They deal with the matters that were raised by the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications that looked into this bill. I note that the committee's recommendation No. 7 states:

The committee recommends the government address obstacles to indigenous participation in the CFI—

the carbon farming initiative—

including resolving outstanding uncertainties in relation to participation by holders of non-exclusive native title.

My question to both the parliamentary secretary and Senator Milne is whether it is their understanding that the particular issue raised by the committee will be substantively resolved by these amendments. That is my reading of it. Also, has there been any feedback from some of the key stakeholders, such as the Kimberley Land Council and the National Native Title Council, to the amend­ments? Again, I feel that they are very sensible amendments that deal with the issue of Indigenous participation.