Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note that I think Senator Waters has an amendment to this motion to which I am agreeable, and I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the super colony hazards of yellow crazy ants in the Wet Tropics, which is distinctly different to the presence of yellow crazy ants in other areas of Queensland, and

(ii) with concern the damage to the natural ecology, to agriculture and to human beings from the yellow crazy ants caused by the formation of super colonies in the Wet Tropics region;

(b) acknowledges the work being done by the Wet Tropics Management Authority, the Cairns Regional Council, the Commonwealth Government's Green Army and individual landowners and volunteers who are to date achieving strong results in containing and locally eradicating the infestation;

(c) calls on the relevant local and Queensland governments to at least match Commonwealth funding to fight the infestation; and

(d) urges the Federal and state governments to commit to eradication of the yellow crazy ants in the Wet Tropics.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was under the impression that Senator Macdonald was amending his own motion, but I believe we have reached agreement. I seek leave to amend general business of motion No. 874 standing in Senator Macdonald's name.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

At the end of the motion, add:

(e) calls upon the Queensland and Commonwealth governments to consider the Wet Tropic Management Authority’s funding for a targeted eradication program in the Wet Tropics

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, did you want to speak to that amendment or seek clarification?

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

): Senator Water's amendment, which I am happy to accept, should have been to remove clause (c) and replace it with the clause that she has read out.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not have a copy of the amendment, so I might come back to it. I will call you again before we finish, and hopefully we will have resolved that.

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition has not seen this proposed amendment either, so if we could be apprised of what it contains we might be able to make a decision on it.