Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, and it regards the impending death of 400 kangaroos at the Belconnen Naval Transmission Station and the comment by the minister for the environment that, ‘I don’t intend to take any other actions other than to just observe those processes as they unfold.’ I ask the minister why the minister for the environment has washed his hands of this issue. Will he urgently review the translocation option of removing the kangaroos to acceptable farmlands in New South Wales? Will the minister give a guarantee, moreover, that the grasslands in question are to be permanently reserved and their environmental values protected?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did hear those reports. I do not have a detailed brief on the three issues you raised. I will attempt to assist you insofar as I can. The first point I would make is that, as you know, in relation to a great many matters of this sort the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth and of Minister Garrett is as outlined under the EPBC Act, an act with which you are well familiar. It is in relation to events which have a national environmental significance that the provisions of the EPBC Act are triggered and, if so, then Minister Garrett, as the minister responsible, has a statutory discretion to exercise in relation to certain decisions.

I am not aware—I have not been advised—of the Commonwealth having any such jurisdiction in relation to this issue, but I will undertake to obtain information as far as I am able to. That also relates to the translocation option which you raised, but again I make the point that these may well be decisions which are not necessarily within the purview of the Commonwealth. Finally, and again in relation to the grasslands issue, I am not aware on what basis you assert Minister Garrett has authority over that issue.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It’s Commonwealth land.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If it is Commonwealth land, and if it is an issue over which we have some jurisdiction, I will, as I said, obtain appropriate advice and respond accordingly.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I draw your attention to the fact that this is front-page news, with photograph, in the Canberra Times today and the minister ought to have been briefed. That having been said, I ask again of the minister—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Alan Ferguson (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left!

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And the issue is drawing international attention. I ask: will the minister urgently review the translocation option, which has not been looked at with the rigour that one would expect by the ACT authorities, with a view to taking that option rather than having the 400 kangaroos put down?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I really would refer the honourable senator to my primary response, but I would make the point that in his supplementary question he referred to actions of the ACT government, so I reiterate the point I was making in relation to what role the Commonwealth may—

QD4 Brown, Sen Bob 0Senator Bob Brown interjecting—

Yes, but, Senator Brown, you yourself referred to the ACT.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And the defence department.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is what you referred to.

XT4 Ronaldson, Sen Michael 0Senator Ronaldson interjecting—

Sorry. You are quite right, Senator Ronaldson. I will take your advice in this regard and refer through the chair. Through the chair, Senator Brown obviously referred to the ACT authorities. I reiterate: I will take advice as to what aspect of this, if any, Minister Garrett has responsibility for.