Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

This has been a very respectful debate, yesterday and today. There were some comments across the chamber. I'll add my comments, too, Senator McAllister, that I respect your professionalism and you as a human being, so please don't take this personally. There are two things that I do want to take umbrage. Firstly, you just said that you answered my questions. The fact that I've had to ask them 10 times would suggest that you haven't answered my questions. In my opinion, you've just misled the Senate chamber. I asked you very clear questions: yes or no, were those comments by Minister Bowen relating to this legislation? And you have repeatedly refused to say yes or no. We all know it's yes, but I can't get you to say that. Fine, that's politics, but for you, then, to say that some senators in this chamber are trying to characterise this debate as though this legislation is enabling a single gas project, being Barossa, well, that's not my characterisation, Senator McAllister, through you, Chair; that is the characterisation of Mr Bowen on public record. I can read it to you again. He was quoted as saying:

We have introduced the legislation to enable that—

being the Barossa project to occur—

He said:

Labor supported passing special legislation that would allow Santos to send carbon dioxide from Australia to the Bayu-Undan oil and gas field in the Timor Sea.

That is not my characterisation. I'm asking you a question about your colleague's characterisation as reported in the media. I want to put it on record. You have, 10 times, refused to acknowledge that this legislation is what Mr Bowen is referring to in his public comments. You have had time to check with his office, and you've refused to. I just want to make that very clear.

There are a couple of things I want to raise and ask questions on, although I'm sure Senator Pocock would like to ask some questions in response to your last contribution. You mentioned that the East Timorese government hasn't signed on to the London protocol but that you would require them to do so before there would be any vote.