Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That, in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974, the Senate approves the following proposals by the National Capital Authority for capital works within the Parliamentary Zone:

(a) the removal and replacement of trees;

(b) the construction of bus shelters;

(c) the removal and replacement of a pedestrian and cycle crossing;

(d) making permanent two existing temporary sculptures at the National Gallery of Australia; and

(e) the installation of three outdoor exhibits at Questacon.

Question agreed to.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement in relation to that motion.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I should indicate that I have a conflict of interest in that I do ride my bike around part of the place where these works are proposed. I just hope that the trees being removed are not some of the trees that make Canberra so special.

Can I also say that I hope that this motion does not allow for any astroturfing. I wanted to mention 'astroturfing', because Senator Milne was able to say the word 53 times in her most recent contribution. Coming from the Greens political party, talking about astroturfing, when GetUp! are the ultimate astroturfer and they are there to astroturf for the Greens political party, it is absolutely incredible for Senator Milne to have the hide to accuse Senator Madigan and Senator Xenophon of astroturfing when then they are the arch architects of it. (Time expired)