Mark Furner (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have driven through there quite extensively. Climate change critics and the climate sceptics across the corridor here, like Senator Macdonald, know very well what happened to those trees in those rainforests. Maybe he would be able to explain what sorts of rainforest trees are going to be planted in North Queensland as a result of having some answers forthcoming from the relevant senator responsible for this legislation.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

If I want nonsense from you, I will come over there and squeeze your head!

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! Senator Furner, would you please address your remarks through the chair.

It is pretty straightforward. I do not know why some of these answers are not forthcoming. There are a broad range of trees, as you might be familiar with, Mr Temporary Chairman Edwards, that it is possible to plant in areas of Queensland. But, once again, there are certain areas that should not be considered as a result of climate change, particularly in North Queensland; we have seen the effects of climate change up there, with significant weather extremes and cyclones. I would like some responses with regards to how that tree planting will be conducted and how many people they intend to introduce in the program to ensure that the program is successful.

Once again, relying upon my earlier questions about partnership arrangements with local councils, will it be a program that is a partnership between federal government and local council to ensure that the tree program is successful and sustainable? What are the conditions of employment as a result of those tree plantings? I heard some time ago that the LNP government proposes to cut the minimum wage by half for those people that are going to be planting those trees.