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

This is a classic contribution from the Greens political party, because the environmental reforms that we committed to bringing through this place were before the parliament for many months. We put on the table a proposal that would have increased the penalties available to people and that would have established an independent EPA, yet you refused to vote for it. And then you come in here and ask us why this outcome that you say you desire has not occurred. I'll tell you what: it is a reflection on your overall approach to politics, because the truth is that the Greens political party absolutely depend not on progressing reform but on stymieing it. You would prefer to keep issues hot and unresolved and to keep a continuing conflict on foot so you can make electoral progress, not environmental progress, and that is the entire story of your political party from beginning to end.