Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Emergency Management) Share this | Hansard source

As the senator knows, all projects must comply with national environmental law, and that includes, of course, the expanded water trigger that was introduced by the Albanese government. The proponent for the project that the senator refers to—Tamboran—has been reminded of this on multiple occasions. They also know that any breach of national environment law will be treated extremely seriously. These changes to the water trigger occurred after the Albanese government passed our first tranche of environmental law last year to add unconventional gas to the water trigger under national environment law. And we've been extremely clear with industry to help them implement their obligations. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water wrote to known companies with activities in the Beetaloo basin, including Tamboran Resources, to inform them of the new obligations that may apply to these operations under the recent water trigger amendments. I understand that the minister's office has also spoken to these companies and reminded them of the requirements under the act. I am also advised that the minister has not received a referral for these activities.

The reality of the law, Senator Hanson-Young, is that the exploration question is authorised by the Northern Territory government, and so the department that Minister Plibersek administers continues to work closely with the Northern Territory government to understand the impact of authorised exploration and whether that could have significant impacts on Commonwealth protected matters, including water. And that is consistent with the law.