Bill Heffernan (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the government for that answer! I think it is curious that we have lent serious money—millions of dollars—for property purchases through the program, yet at this point we do not know how they are going to gain their credits. These are million-acre properties, where all sorts of storms cross and something will grow here but it will not grow 30 miles down the road, where a fire will go through. We are kidding ourselves that somehow we are going to get carbon credits that are tradeable on millions of acres of country, where half of it might have been wiped out and half of it might have feed that is a foot high because a thunderstorm has gone through. God help us!

That leads me to my next question, Minister. The legislation is before the parliament now and we are expected to understand it in a couple of days. I cannot get any answers to very basic questions now, although I appreciate the assistance of Senator Milne. She, like me, has always had a bit of a passion for looking after Australia and Mother Earth.