Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Wong. The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, has just approved Gina Rinehart's Queensland coal seam gas mine out to 2080, putting hundreds of hectares of koala habitat and billions of litres of water at risk. What does the minister care more about: letting Gina Rinehart profit from another climate-wrecking coal seam gas mine, or protecting our endangered koalas?

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

Thank you, Senator. I also welcome Mr Simms back to the Senate. I can indicate that the Albanese government and Minister Plibersek make decisions in accordance with the facts and national environmental law, and that is what happened in this case and in every case. We will continue to consider each project on a case-by-case basis under the law. The project will primarily contribute domestic gas supply for households and Australian manufacturing, including for glass, bricks, cement and food packaging. I understand the approval comes with conditions to protect nature, including strict limits on habitat loss.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But not this time.

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

Order! Senator Hanson-Young, you've asked your question.

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

You can have a discussion with Senator Faruqi about koala habitat. We are ticking off renewable energy projects at record rates.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Order on my left! Senator McKim.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order: Senator Wong has made a personal reflection on Senator Faruqi, and I ask her to withdraw.

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

Senator McKim, there was no personal reflection. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

I'm always happy to withdraw. I withdraw. I look forward to similar standards of courtesy from Senator Faruqi when she speaks about me personally, as I'm sure she will show in the future. Senator, what I would say to you—and I can list the range of renewable energy projects that we have also approved at this point—is that Minister Plibersek makes decisions in accordance with the law and the facts of the case. That is what occurred on this occasion.

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

Senator Hanson-Young, a first supplementary?

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Habitat destruction from land clearing and the climate crisis are the biggest threats to already endangered koalas, with their numbers—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator Hanson-Young, please resume your seat. Order on my left! Seriously! Order!

Senator McKenzie, how does me calling for order not apply to you? Senator Hanson-Young, would you begin your question again, please, because I was not able to hear a single word of it.

Senator Cash, I have called you a number of times today; I have lost count. I want to hear Senator Hanson-Young's question. She is entitled to ask it in silence, and Minister Wong is entitled to give her response in silence.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. I would ask that the clock be reset.

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

Yes, of course.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Habitat destruction from land clearing and the climate crisis are the biggest threats to already endangered koalas, with their numbers declining by 50 per cent in Queensland since 2001.

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

Senator Cash, seriously! How many times have I had to call you to order? Senator Hanson-Young, please continue.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Koala numbers have declined by 50 per cent in Queensland since 2001. When will the Labor government stop approving the destruction of koala habitat and start protecting them from extinction? How many more photo-ops will the minister have before she does something?

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

I will try to respond to the question and not the personal suggestions about Ms Plibersek. Senator Hanson-Young is right: habitat is one of the key risks facing koalas, and that is why the minister has taken action in relation to safeguarding koalas and koala habitat. I think the advice I have in my brief is different to what you said in your primary. I'm advised that the approval includes strict conditions. No koala breeding or foraging habitat can be cleared. That is the advice that I have. I obviously don't agree with the attack on the minister, but on many of the propositions about the risk racing koalas, you are correct. The advice I have in this brief is as I've outlined. (Time expired)

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

Senator Hanson-Young, a second supplementary question?

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have an environment minister who continues to approve new coal and gas mines, polluting the environment, and the destruction of habitat and native forest logging. When will we have an environment minister who actually protects the environment?

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

Senator Wong, I did call you.

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

My apologies. I didn't hear you call me, nor did, I think, the person setting the clock—it's on zero. I don't want unlimited time, but I think zero time's probably a bit unreasonable!

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do I need to ask the question again?

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

No, Senator Hanson-Young, you don't. I heard the range of political assertions in the question; I don't think they need repeating. You can give a speech after question time if you want to do it.

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

Senator Hanson-Young, you've asked your question.

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

The minister applies the law that this parliament has passed—that's the first point. Secondly, the minister has been ticking off renewable energy projects at record rates and is stripping coal and gas projects to which the senator refers by around seven-to-one, and record numbers of renewable energy projects are in the approval pipeline. We have greenlit 54 renewable projects in just over two years—enough to power more than three million Australian homes. The minister is doing an outstanding job, and I appreciate that you have to make political statements, but the fact simply does apply.