Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

So the minister is saying that he agrees with the amendment, like the opposition spokesperson who also agrees with the amendment, but is not going to support it on the basis that the Territory law would have to be abided by anyway and effectively this is redundant. But it is right at the core of the matter that Senator Ludlam has brought up. The question back to the minister is: if this has no effect, and the minister's advice is that the Territory law would have to be upheld anyway then why not accept the amendment, writing it into federal law—that state law on this particular matter be a process to ensure that landowners' wishes are properly taken into account? Why not put it under the authority of this federal law as this could so grievously, potentially, affect landowners who feel they have not been consulted? If you agree with Senator Ludlam on this matter, what is it that prevents you from acting on that agreement?