Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The answer to that earlier estimates question that I referred to does highlight that Professor Chris Moran, who is currently on the interim coal seam gas committee that has been functioning for several months now, is employed by the Sustainable Minerals Institute at UQ which has received funding from the mining industry over the past five years. So Senator Joyce's question was apposite. Unfortunately, Senator Xenophon's question was asked earlier and the response was inadequate. Apparently the government has no criteria to protect against conflict of interest, nor is it concerned that members of the interim or final committee might currently be on the payroll of industry. Perhaps the minister can shed light on whether that view has changed given the concern expressed by members of this chamber.