Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement of no more than five minutes—in fact, it won't be anywhere near that—to seek clarification about the government's sitting program.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Two minutes?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Leave is granted for two minutes.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do thank senators for giving me leave. The opposition would like to understand the intentions of the government in relation to two bills, in particular, acknowledging that we sat last night to deal with time-critical bills. There are a number of time-critical bills listed on the program today. I'm conscious there is also limited time for government business over Wednesday and Thursday. The opposition would like to understand how the government intends to deal with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals) Bill 2020 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standards and Assurance) Bill 2021. We know that both those bills require substantive debate. They're not listed on the program today. We would like to understand from the government how they intend to deal with those bills before the Senate adjourns at the end of tomorrow's sitting.

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

Does the government wish to respond, Senator Birmingham?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement of not more than two minutes.

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

Leave is granted for two minutes.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Senate, and I thank Senator Gallagher for her question and interest in that regard. The government certainly welcomes interest from the opposition in relation to the EPBC amendments. Those amendments, as we have traversed in the Senate in different ways, which are well known, seek to try to streamline approvals processes between the Commonwealth jurisdiction and state jurisdictions and to ensure that the costs and impact of getting a development approved are reduced without undermining or reducing the environmental protections.

The government would very much welcome the Labor Party indicating its support to pass that legislation. If that were the case, then of course we would cooperate to ensure its swift passage to provide that certainty for Australian business and to ensure that Australian business has the certainty and has the opportunity to get projects off the ground at the least possible cost, with the least possible waste of time, with the least possible duplication, whilst ensuring—

Opposition senators interjecting—

I'm hearing the opposition is ready to debate it. What we would like to know is whether they are ready to support it. As Senator Gallagher has indicated—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order on my left! The minister will be heard in silence.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

there are a series of time-critical bills, and I thank the opposition for their cooperation in the passage of a number of those last night. We look forward to working through a number of others today and tomorrow. Should the opposition be willing to indicate its support for the passage of the EPBC reforms, then of course the government would list that legislation for tomorrow and work with the opposition to secure its passage.

An opposition senator interjecting—

But, if you're not supporting it, Senator, then of course we must prioritise those time-critical bills, and that is what the government will do.