Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of Senator Waters, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Minister for the Environment (Mr Hunt) announced $6 million to combat illegal logging at the Asia Pacific Rainforest Summit,

(ii) the Minister did not mention That the Government would simultaneously cut Australia's commitment to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) by 80 per cent, or $4 million, and

(iii) Australia benefits from leveraging over $500 million in contributions from other countries to the UNEP in a range of areas, including air pollution, ozone depletion and biodiversity loss;

(b) condemns the Government's sleight of hand which has further embarrassed Australia on the global stage; and

(c) calls on the Government to restore Australia's financial commitment to the UNEP.