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

As I was saying, the appalling track record of the Newman government in Queensland on the environment is precisely why they should not be given more powers over the environment, and they specifically should not be given the federal environmental approval powers under the EPBC Act that this government is proposing to give them.

I am pleased that we have had discussions with the Palmer United Party along those lines. We have clearly put the position that, if the Newman government are so awful as to warrant an inquiry into their terrible track record, clearly they should not be given more powers over the environment. I am pleased that the Palmer United Party have agreed with that logical conclusion.

I am also pleased that we have been able to secure amendments to the terms of reference for this inquiry to clearly bring in both the appalling track record of the Newman government and the track record of Commonwealth oversight of coal seam gas approvals in Queensland, which have been a very vexed issue no matter which government has been in power. I am pleased that we will now be able to look at those issues.

I am also pleased that the terms of reference are broad enough to consider Mr Clive Palmer's environmental track record through his company in relation to the Yabulu nickel refinery on the shores of the Great Barrier Reef and the Galilee Basin coalmine.