Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Minister Gallagher. The government's first legislative change following the referendum is the offshore worker safety bill, in which schedule 2, part 2, gives the Minister for Resources the power to silence First Nations voices who are fighting to protect their sea country, including sea country that might be part of the Indigenous protected areas, the IPAs. Australia also signed the high seas treaty in September last year, which sets out new obligations regarding marine protected areas on the high seas. My question is: are areas of sea country in IPAs exempt from offshore leases, and will they be included in any protected areas established or managed under the high seas treaty?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Cox for the question about the offshore gas safety legislation. We've certainly, I think, had feedback from a whole range of organisations, including environmental organisations and First Nations groups, along with the industry, who have told the government that our system of consultation is not working, which is why we are developing those amendments to the legislation. There will be further amendments, as I understand it, that will be moved in the House. We need to make sure that those regulatory changes will be consistent with our national environmental laws.

I think this is probably a question better asked of the Minister for Resources rather than the Minister for Indigenous Australians. But we are aware, certainly in the consultations around this bill, of feedback from First Nations groups, and ministers, including the Minister for Resources, Minister King, have been doing the consultations around that legislation. So my advice is that there will be no changes to rigorous environmental assessments, no environmental standards will be watered down and there will be no fast track for offshore projects, but this bill will allow some reform to improve the safety of offshore gas workers and to fix the broken community consultation process on offshore projects where we have had feedback from those numerous stakeholders, including First Nations groups.

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

Senator Cox, first supplementary?

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What's the point in having these protected areas if the government will not commit to protecting these areas from the drilling, against the wishes of First Nations people, in Indigenous protected areas? That's why it's to this minister.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not sure whether senators have been aware of it, but there have been amendments moved in the House to better capture the government's longstanding intention to maintain the integrity of our environmental and community protection regime. I'll just refer you back to my earlier answer, where I said that the bill—

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just on a point of relevance, I was asking directly about the Indigenous protected areas, which are the responsibility of the Minister for Indigenous Australians.

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

Your original question went to a part of a bill, so I do believe the minister is being relevant.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My advice has been that the bill does not change the legal requirements for offshore consultation in any way, shape or form, so I think that does answer that question. There'll be no changes to rigorous environmental assessments, no environmental standards will be watered down and there will be no fast track for offshore projects involved or covered by this legislation. There have been some amendments moved which I think better capture that focus, and there are the consultations that Minister King has done to date.

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

Senator Cox, second supplementary?

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why is this government ignoring the wishes of First Nations people, who are fighting to protect their sea country, and refusing to remove schedule 2 part 2 of this offshore workers safety bill?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government doesn't ignore anybody or any stakeholder. In fact, we have made it part of our government's priority to consult across the board and to consult widely on legislation and policies, because this government is about bringing people together, not dividing them. We are a very different government to the one that came before us and very different to the opposition that sits there and opposes everything—no new ideas, negativity all the way.

Gerard Rennick (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Get her a violin.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is strange, I accept, Senator Rennick, because you're not a great bringer-together of people, but this is the approach that we take here. We want to consult with people.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

I'm just waiting for order across the chamber. Senator Scarr.

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Multicultural Engagement) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A personal reflection, President.

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

President, I'm sure that Senator Gallagher will withdraw if Senator Rennick wishes her to, but I don't think he markets himself as the consensus guy. I thought it was in good nature, but, if the senator wishes Senator Gallagher to withdraw, I'm sure she will.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw. I was responding to the interjections that were occurring, but I withdraw. But we don't ignore stakeholders on projects. The approach we take is that ministers work with stakeholders. If there are areas where we disagree, we explain why we disagree, but, on this one, Minister King is leading those consultations.