Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Watt, I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, by no later than 10 am on Monday, 30 August 2021, all documents generated in relation to Minister Angus Taylor's trip to the Northern Territory between 15 and 17 October 2020, including, but not limited to, correspondence, invitations, itineraries, briefing papers and meeting notes.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) 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.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Beetaloo Cooperative Drilling Program's design guidelines, application process and approvals are the ministerial responsibility of the Minister of Water Resources and Water. The government is opposing this motion as it is nothing more than a cynical attempt to distract from the Labor Party's internal divisions on supporting Australia's gas industry. The government continues to cooperate with the ongoing Senate Environment and Communications References Committee's inquiry on this matter, having responded to over 20 additional questions from the committee to date. This motion is an unnecessary drain on the Senate's time and the resources of the Public Service in the middle of a pandemic.

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

The question is that motion No. 1229 be agreed to.