Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

[by video link] I just want to say thank you very much to the Greens and to Senator Patrick for their support in this matter. For a few years now I've been raising issues about the oil and gas industry, especially on the North West Shelf, and other issues.

Senator Patrick is right. In Senate estimates we were actually questioning Senator Matt Canavan, who was the minister for resources at the time, when what was happening with the Northern Endeavour was brought to my attention. We need a full investigation into that. I believe there has been a cover-up. I don't believe it has been dealt with properly. And now, with this amendment, we listen to Labor say that this is a rushed-through amendment! I just can't believe it. Every time we put up an amendment to a bill that's going to improve legislation for the people of Australia, that's Labor's answer: 'It's always rushed through. We haven't had time to look at it.' Well, that's a weak excuse, because I'm questioning the coalition government over the deals that they've done, asking why they have allowed Woodside to pay $24 million to NOGA to take over this company and forgo their responsibilities in the clean-up. I have to ask: do you want representation for the people, or are you quite prepared to sit back and let the taxpayers pay for this? That's exactly what they're doing. You are pathetic in the way that you are dealing with this, saying that it's rushed-through legislation.

You also talked about an industry levy. Where is it? Where's the legislation? They say they're going to bring it in, 48c a barrel. We haven't seen the legislation, so how do you know it's going to happen? Do you trust and believe the government that it is going to happen? That's a change, isn't it? You used to be the ones jumping up and down and saying, 'Where's the legislation?' Don't you think it's putting the cart before the horse?

We have a responsibility here. It's cost hundreds of millions of dollars. As I said yesterday, something stinks to high heaven here. When you have a company like Woodside paying $55,000 a year to have access to the National Party ministers in the resources portfolio, which they always hold, that tells me something is not right. We know because Senator Rex Patrick and I really investigated what was going on with the Northern Endeavour. There was a cover-up there if I've ever seen one. But we were shut down in asking questions in Senate estimates because they didn't want us asking questions, and Senator Matt Canavan was absolutely hopeless. He didn't know his portfolio or didn't know exactly what was going on, and he was also in cover-up mode. It's not fair that the Australian people have to wear this.

We're trying to get accountability here, and it's most important that we do. We're talking about hundreds of millions of dollars. I want the Labor Party and the others to really have a look at this retrospectivity. Yes, I agree with you that to bring this in at this time is not really good. But, when we know that it was purposely done to actually get rid of their responsibilities, you've got to question that and ask why it was allowed to happen. Why were Woodside paid $8.8 million to get their advice, as Senator Rex Patrick said? Honestly, I think it stinks to high heaven, and I'll keep saying that over and over again.

To every member of parliament who sits back and doesn't ask for accountability: you're not worth your salt, and you shouldn't be sitting on the benches in parliament, representing the Australian people. This is important to the Australian people. Let's have some accountability. Once again, I will say: thank you very much to the Greens, for your support and common sense in this matter, and to Senator Rex Patrick.