Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

(—) (): The Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development, in relation to coal seam gas and large coalmines, does very valuable work not just for the Commonwealth government but also for the states who signed on to utilise its expertise. We are committed to its independence. We are committed to that advisory committee providing robust advice to the Commonwealth government in relation to our approvals through the EPBC Act process, particularly in relation to the application of the water trigger and the protection of water resources, as well as ensuring that at the state level its information is made available under the agreements that the states signed on to, to inform their approvals processes, which generally have a broader application, of course, in relation to resources projects and the application of their mining and environmental approvals regimes for any resources developments. Certainly, in relation to that independent expert scientific committee, we expect it to be independent and well-resourced. (Time expired)