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

This government supports what we think are very good frameworks that were put in place in relation to how the independent scientific committee works. It has an agreement that underpins it that provides for information to be provided, not just to the federal minister in making determinations, particularly under the water trigger in the EPBC Act, but also to state and territory ministers when they are making decisions in relation to how CSG operates. There is an incredibly robust framework in place to ensure that coal seam gas development proposals are well analysed, well assessed and assessed against the best available scientific information, and that that information is then taken into account by the Commonwealth environment minister and relevant state ministers. We think it is a robust arrangement that is in place. It is incredibly strong, it is very well funded and it does a good job for a critical industry for Australia.