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

My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research in his science capacity and also in his role representing the Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy. I ask a question in relation to the Green Building Council of Australia, set up in 2002 to advise the building industry on environmental standards: is it true that the council of state and federal forestry ministers has endorsed a statement calling on the council to lower its forest derived product standard from the Forest Stewardship Council standard to the Australian forestry standard? What talks has the minister had about using government influence to lower and corrupt the standards set by this independent building advisory council?

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will have to take further advice on this, Senator Brown. I am not aware of the proposition that you have put to the chamber. If you are talking about the Australian Building Ministers Forum, which met last Friday and which I chaired, then the events that you have outlined are simply not true.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Brown is entitled to hear the answer.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brown, I am not familiar with the matter that you have presented to the chamber and I will seek further advice.

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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer to the report in the Age on Tuesday last, which says:

A council of state and federal forestry ministers last week endorsed a statement calling on the Green Building Council to accept the industry-backed—

that is the logging and woodchipping industry backed—

Australian Forestry Standard for sustainable timber.

I ask the minister: what talks he has had, if any, with his colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry about this clear government move, coming from vested interests in the logging industry, to corrupt the standards being put forward by the independent Green Building Council of Australia?

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Brown for his question. I do not have any brief on this matter. It is a matter for the minister for agriculture, as I understand it. You have said it is a forestry issue. I am not responsible for forestry. I will have to take your question on notice.

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

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Mr President, the minister is responsible for looking after independent contractors, the service economy, small business and, indeed, science and I ask him: will he report back to the Senate on this documented effort by the clear-fell logging and woodchip industry to impose its destructive environmental standards on this independent authority which has set out to advise, and is advising, the building industry of Australia on best environmental standards?

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brown, I have already indicated that I will take your question on notice. The relevant minister will be approached and I will respond in the normal way.