Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 11 November 2015:

The future of Australian forest management, including:

(a) an assessment of past and current management of native forests, including assessment of Regional Forest Agreements in achieving their objectives and those of the National Forest Policy Statement, and other land management mechanisms and programs;

(b) assessment of the economic, environmental and social value of native forests for regional and rural communities, including for recreation and tourism;

(c) assessment of the challenges and opportunities for protecting the environmental values of native forests, including, but not limited to, biodiversity, protections for threatened species, water and bushfires;

(d) the impacts of climate change on native forests and plantations, and the role of native forests and forest management in mitigating the effects of climate change on people and the environment;

(e) assessment of the challenges and opportunities facing the forestry industry, and assessment of actions required to support competitiveness and employment, including but not restricted to innovation and investment, research and development, and the sustainability and management of the plantation forest estate;

(f) assessment of the workforce profile of the Australian forestry and forest products industry and the impacts of forest management regimes, such as Regional Forest Agreements, on employment;

(g) assessment of the most effective mechanisms for ensuring the social, environmental, and economic values of forests are effectively protected and managed for future generations; and

(h) any other related matter.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in the name of Senator Rice be agreed to.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In recent weeks and months there have been a number of issues in this Senate. I have worked cooperatively with the Greens members of this place. In the course of doing business in this chamber I have learnt that there are many issues that we have in common: protection of human rights and civil liberties, opposing supertrawler fishing—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, a point of order: I am seeking clarification on whether that was a real division or not and why the bells rang for only four minutes if it was a real division. I had left the chamber and was not able to get back in a one-minute time frame.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will just deal with Senator Lambie's statement, and then I will come straight back to you.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But it does not matter whether you said, 'There'll be more divisions.' It does not indicate whether they are real or not.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, I will deal with that now. Under standing order 101—and I encourage you to read it—if there is no ensuing debate between divisions then division bells only need to be rung by one minute. It has been a courtesy extended by the chair on many, many occasions to allow a four-minute division when a number of senators leave or if the nature of the divisions changes. But under the standing orders it is very clear that standing order 101 says that there is a one-minute division. On top of that, I gave a warning clearly to everyone in the chamber.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If it was a real division—the nature of—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Every division is a real division. Senator Lambie has the call.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

stopping cuts to pensions, caring for ADF members and veterans, and mental health. However, this Greens notice of motion that we have just voted on, which essentially refers the Australian forestry industry to a Senate committee, does not fool me. This motion is nothing but another unnecessary attack on the Australian forestry industry and in particular the Tasmanian forestry industry.

If there is going to be any inquiry into the forestry industry it should be how the Greens members of this parliament used taxpayers funds to destroy a sustainable, honourable industry which employed lots of workers in Tasmania and around the country. This is nothing but a witch-hunt, and I strongly oppose it, which has now just been voted away.