Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee on the provisions of the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 and the Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 be 4 December 2023.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

Only a few days ago, interestingly, it appeared there was only one party in this chamber that was supportive of this legislation, and it is interesting to see there's been a change. We were going to bring back the report on this legislation in April, but now we're going to bring it back today. It makes me wonder why. I wonder exactly what has changed in those few days since we had that arrangement where we were going to be deliberating on these important pieces of legislation until April.

It's important to remember that nearly every stakeholder that came to this committee condemned the legislation. At the very least, they said we should be leaving this legislation until we deal with the proper EPBC reforms: get the framework in place first and then deal with everything else afterwards. So what has changed? I have a sneaking suspicion a deal has been done. I will be very interested to see over the coming days exactly what has been done, because it is bad legislation. We remain opposed to it. We should be having the committee report out until April of next year, for proper scrutiny, but instead it appears a deal has been done.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

You have one minute with leave.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government's motion to rush this inquiry report through today, more than four months earlier than the committee requested and the Senate agreed, is a dodgy, dirty deal. The Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 is a deceptive, arrogant title. It's really about the federal government financially coercing farmers to lock up their land or walk off it to satisfy the dictates of foreign, unelected climate change bureaucrats, like COP28. No wonder the government wants to cut short the inquiry into this bill and rush the bill through this week. All of the climate rent seekers are happy to support this bill because, eventually, it will lead to money in their pockets from the people of Australia. While farmers are paid to lock up their land, a lack of agricultural production will cause untold human misery both in Australia and overseas. One Nation will be opposing this rushed dirty deal. Give the committee the time it originally requested to make its report.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the Senate is that the motion moved by Senator Chisholm seeking a variation to a reporting date of a committee be agreed to.