Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Macdonald, Stoker and McGrath—all Queensland senators supporting coal—move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges the Queensland Government's willingness to consider proposals to open up the Galilee Basin; and

(b) calls on the Queensland Government to take an impartial approach to any company willing to make a proposal.

Andrew Bartlett (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Andrew Bartlett (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is indeed an interesting motion from Queensland senators. As a Queenslander, I certainly acknowledge the first part of the motion: the Queensland government—or at least some of them—are not only willing but indeed keen to consider proposals to open up the Galilee Basin for more thermal coalmining. In fact, they're still issuing exploration licences for it. But, on the second part of this motion, it is quite risible, frankly, for senators from the Liberal and National parties to call on anybody else to take an impartial approach when it comes to coal. As we've just seen from the previous vote, on the motion moved by Senator Hanson, they have done nothing more than promote coal. They are having open warfare in regard to trying to find ways to promote coal above everything else. Frankly, until both Labor and the LNP stop taking millions of dollars in donations from the fossil fuel lobby, they will never be able to be impartial on this issue.

Question agreed to.