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

I have a number of questions for the government that relate to Senator Milne's amendment. The minister says the bill is about minimising the risk of illegally logged timber. I will ask some general questions, if I may, before I go to the specific aspects of Senator Milne's amendment. Firstly, what is the government's best estimate of the amount of illegally logged timber that is coming into Australia at this time? Secondly, the government says that this bill is about a framework to minimise risk of illegally logged timber coming into this country. This is an issue in terms of not just deforestation and environmental damage but also costing Australian jobs. What does the government say should be the target? What is its goal, aspiration or policy aim? To what extent does the government say that this bill will reduce the level of illegally logged timber, and what is its broad policy aim for the next five to 10 years, for instance?