Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Wong. I refer to reports in the Australian today revealing that Ms Plibersek's decision on 4 November to review 18 previous ministerial approvals of coal and gas projects may cost 174,000 Australians their jobs and cause the loss of $100 billion worth of investment in our country. Has the government done any modelling on the economic and social impacts of these decisions and, if so, what does the modelling actually say?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for the question, Senator Duniam. I infer from the question—and I don't have the detailed information before me; I may have it at any point in this answer—that this is a review in the context of Ms Plibersek's statutory role. As such, I wouldn't be responding to assertions by others about what might or might not occur in the context of that review. Obviously, the government wouldn't be in a position of modelling hypotheticals.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, first supplementary.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the decision to review these projects has come about because of legal action by Environmental Justice Australia, a group set to benefit from the recent budget in a share of nearly $10 million of government funding to continue to appeal coal and gas projects, will the government review its decision to hand taxpayers' money to organisations jeopardising jobs and projects helping to supply our energy?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

nator WONG (—) (): I'm not sure if you actually said the name of the entity, but I would make the point that we live in a country where there is the rule of law and funding entities or people who then may use their rights under the rule of law and exercise them is what happens in a democracy with respect to the rule of law.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, second supplementary.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've got no issue with the rule of law, but I do have an issue with taxpayers' money being used this way. How can the government honestly tell Australians it is for lower power prices and more Australian jobs when it is actually funding groups engaged in green lawfare, jeopardising much needed jobs and, of course, projects that supply our energy?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I may say, Senator Duniam—and I understand why he is asking the question—there were a lot of non sequiturs there. The government will apply its approach to environmental approvals under the law which exists, which is the same law as was applied under your government. I certainly wouldn't be commenting on any projects currently under assessment by the minister now or in the future. With that, if I may, I ask that further questions be placed on notice.