George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I am not familiar with Professor Terry Hughes. I have never heard of Professor Terry Hughes, but I would venture to say that Professor Terry Hughes is not the only scientist who has expressed a view on this matter. As I said to you, Senator Waters, in answer to your primary question, there are a variety of views. There are a variety of views about this issue across the entire scientific community, and you have selectively quoted one. I have no doubt at all that Professor Terry Hughes holds his view in good faith, but the binary proposition that you quote Professor Hughes as expressing—that is, we have to choose between coal and the Great Barrier Reef—I would venture to suggest to you is wrong. You of all people, a Queensland senator, should be supporting the great coal industry of Queensland, because that is what the people of Queensland are expecting you to do.