Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to the most recent financial report of the Environmental Defenders Office which outlines the $9 million in legal costs the organisation is required to pay following its failed attempt to halt the Santos Barossa Gas Project. Given it's reported that the repayment of the loan provided to the EDO from a mystery donor will be approximately $2.3 million each year and this happens to be the same amount that has been handed to the EDO by this government, does the minister think it an acceptable use of taxpayers' money to effectively pay for the penalty the EDO has itself incurred for their wrongful acts in trying to destroy vital Australian projects and the jobs they create?