Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, you might forgive the Greens for not taking you at your word when you say, 'Why would you omit economic, social and environmental sustainability when making infrastructure decisions?' You might not be too surprised that I do not take this government at its word that you would just automatically consider those things. The Prime Minister thinks climate change is absolute crap, and I will have a little bit more to say about that when we get to those specific clauses later in the evening. You do not have a very good record on this stuff—not you personally, Minister; but the government absolutely does not have a good record. In that case, I look forward to committing this amendment to the chamber. I move the amendment on sheet 7482 revised:

(1) Schedule 1, item 8, page 4 (lines 22 to 24), omit paragraph 5(a), substitute:

(a) to conduct audits to determine the adequacy, capacity and condition of nationally significant infrastructure, taking into account:

  (i) forecast growth; and

  (ii) economic, social and environmental sustainability;

I look forward to it passing to the House of Representatives, where the minister will be given a chance to have some second thoughts and hopefully come up with a better line of argument than you have, Senator Johnston, with great respect.