Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I'll take that interjection by Senator McGrath. I'll take that interjection because this is the same party who have done nothing to give farmers the right to lock the gate to coal seam gas companies and other coal companies. I say that with great dismay because I thought the Nationals were meant to be the party for farmers, and yet they've voted against the landholder rights bills that I have brought into this place since 2011—I think it's been five times now. They've been voted down every time, including by the coalition government and, sadly, by Labor. I really think that you should reflect on your perhaps new-found concern for the sanctity of property rights when you won't even give these lands managers the right to protect the sustainability of their land from rapacious fossil fuel companies. But, again, the fossil fuel companies do make very generous donations, don't they? Maybe they're paying more into your coffers than the agricultural sector previously has? That must be it, because, unfortunately, those people aren't getting the representation they deserve.

I can't wait to hear what the next speaker's got to say, but I think that we've raised some really important issues here today. We are unapologetically in support of the climate protests that have been underway globally—led by young people and led, often, by young women, which makes me very happy—and that are now coming to our shores by our young people who feel so disenfranchised by this political process and are so aware that so many of the parties in this place have been bought by vested interests and corporate donors. They are taking to the streets, and I think that's incredibly brave of them. History will look upon them as absolute heroes who, at the last minute, tried to do everything they could to make their government aware of what was at stake and to protect their futures. So to the kids who are up there in the gallery, I want to say: please keep your activism up and keep your hope up. We in this place have a duty to represent you, and many of us are trying to do just that.