Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I have a few points and some questions. I think Senator Whish-Wilson did the chamber a favour not only by confirming the deal but by making clear that from the Greens' perspective this agreement means that the water register is just the start. It is the first stage of a plan to roll out more red tape in relation to foreign investment, this time in water. That is certainly what his proposition was; if that is not what the government says it has agreed to, it probably should say so in the interest of transparency.

I also want to make a couple points in response to Senator Cormann's assertions about this government being all about jobs. I would like the minister to explain to the chamber how creating more red tape and more barriers to investment in this country is good for jobs.