Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sterle for the question. In the terms of pure responsibility within portfolios, I think you can take those statements at their face value, Senator. So I would not argue with the statements that you made in the context of the pure responsibilities of a particular portfolio. As the EPBC Act states, the environment minister is responsible for environmental approvals under the act. You are right: that is his responsibility, and he is assigned to that.

Members of this place are quite capable and have the capacity to make statements in respect of their own electorates. I think that is part of the democratic process. Unfortunately, on the Labor side, the only way that you can have an independent point of view—as Senator Bullock has demonstrated—is to resign from the parliament. You cannot have an independent point of view— (Time expired)