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

I move:

That, following the sightings of a flock of swift parrots feeding in the forests of southeast New South Wales surrounding Bermagui, the Senate calls on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts (Mr Garrett) to assess the status of these forests as swift parrot habitats and advise Forests NSW accordingly of any need to protect this vital habitat.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—The government does not support this motion. The day-to-day management of state forest and land in New South Wales is the responsibility of Forests New South Wales.

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

by leave—As to the responsibility for the habitat of the swift parrot, the buck stops right with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, the Hon. Peter Garrett, and the Rudd government. They cannot wash their hands of that responsibility under a national law and international responsibility and treaty obligations, as the minister has just tried to do. That is totally unacceptable from the government.

Question put.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will now go back. I think the rest of the matters probably will not need divisions, but I cannot guarantee that. I will deal with them seriatim, starting with No. 567, standing in the name of Senator Boswell.