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

Senator Canavan.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Acting Deputy President. My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. In reference to the Greens deal with the Albanese Labor government on the safeguard mechanism announced today, Mr Adam Bandt, the Leader of the Greens Party, said:

The Beetaloo gas field will be required from day one to offset all of its emissions—scope one, scope two and scope three—for domestic use.

Will all new coal and gas projects require their scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 emissions for domestic use to be offset from day one under the Albanese Labor government's deal with the Greens?

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

Thank you, Senator Canavan. I remind you I'm the President. Minister Farrell.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks to Senator Canavan for his question. After a wasted decade, today is a very good day. We are legislating for a 43 per cent reduction, and today's changes are how we are going to deliver that. The safeguards will be a clear, stable and commonsense framework for reducing emissions. and the only chance in this parliament to reduce emissions of the biggest 215 emitters in this country. We thank businesses right across Australia, and particularly the Greens today, for their constructive dialogue. If the opposition have got some concerns about this particular policy, then they could have—

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

President, again, a point of order on direct relevance. Senator Farrell likes to go through the background part of a brief. These points of order actually give him time to come to the specific question that was asked. So, as he flicks through the pages in front of him, could we please draw him to Senator Canavan's very specific question about whether future projects will have their scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 emissions for domestic use required to be offset? Will they, or won't they?

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

I believe the minister is being relevant but I will listen. That question was very detailed. Yes, it had a direct ask at the end, but it was also very detailed.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The reality is this. At some point it must strike the coalition that when you deal yourself out of the—

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

Senator Birmingham on a point of order?

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

Again, President, direct relevance: the question went to a substantive matter of policy, not to whatever the minister wants to say about the opposition but to a substantive question of policy. Please draw him to the policy.

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

Thank you, Senator Birmingham. I will certainly draw the minister to the question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The reality is that at some point you've got to understand, when you deal yourself out of the picture by refusing to negotiate—

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

Senator Birmingham on a point of order?

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

President, you did just draw the minister to the question. He is flaunting your ruling, ignoring your ruling, showing disregard. I urge you to please be proactive in reminding him of that or, if need be, sitting him down if he continues to ignore you.

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

Senator Birmingham, I have drawn the minister to the question. Minister, I ask you to direct yourself to the—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Conversations across the chamber are disorderly! I called the minister to the question. I am going to call the minister to answer the question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. I completely reject the suggestion that I don't respect the chair, because I do. The safeguard framework will help deliver the commitment of scope 1 emissions. Given the cross-jurisdictional nature of scopes 2 and 3 emissions, the government will refer scope 2 and 3 emissions to the Energy and Climate Ministerial Council.

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

Senator Canavan, your first supplementary?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In his statement, Mr Adam Bandt has said that the deal will stop many of the 116 Australian coal and gas projects that are in the pipeline for construction. Is this correct? Based on government analysis, how many projects will be stopped, and how many Australian jobs will this deal cost?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Canavan for his first supplementary question. Since you've asked some questions about Mr Bandt's statements, then I suggest you go and ask him about what it was that he intended to say. As far as—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You keep asking me these questions, I start to answer them, and then you try and stop me from answering them. Australia's oil and gas sector will continue to play an essential role in guaranteeing the energy security of Australia and our regions. As we know on this side, gas is a key enabler for Australia in our region's net zero transition. I might remind you, Senator Canavan, that you used to have a policy of net zero by 2050. You may not have agreed to it, but that was the policy you took to the Australian people. (Time expired)

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

Senator Canavan, your second supplementary?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's not net zero in 2050; it's net zero today. Right now, 500 Australians have jobs helping to construct the Olive Downs mine near Moranbah in Central Queensland. The mine will also provide 1,000 permanent operations jobs. Will this new mine have to offset all of its emissions from day one? Will any of these jobs be impacted by the Albanese Labor government's deal with the Greens?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I reiterate that, once the coalition decide to deal themselves out of the debate, you can't complain. We intend to implement the policies that we took to the last election, including our policy to get to net zero by 2050, which was also your policy. Of course, if you cared so much about these places, you, Senator Canavan, would have pushed your party and the rest of the—

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

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator Canavan?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order on relevance, the question was clearly about the 500 jobs. Those workers deserve an answer, to know if they have a job tonight. It's a question that I'm asking on behalf of them.

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

Yes, I'm aware of the question—

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They deserve an answer, Minister. Will they still have a job after they wake up tomorrow?

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

Senator Canavan, resume your seat. I am going to remind senators that points—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! Senator Canavan and Senator Ayres.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They're all talk.

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

I've just had you on your feet, Senator Canavan.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order across the chamber!

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do they have a job, Don?

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

Senator Canavan, you've just been on your feet with a point of order. As I went to respond, you engaged with other senators in interjections across the chamber. That is disrespectful. I'm also going to remind senators in this place: if you jump on a point of order, make it succinctly; don't make points of debate at the end of it. Minister Farrell, I'll draw you back to the question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. As you know, I'm a well-known supporter of coal workers, as was very clear. The government supports scientific, independent and evidence based decision-making when it comes to the resources exploration and other commercial developments. The coal industry generates more than $10 billion annually in royalties and provides for over— (Time expired)