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

My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. Defence Housing Australia, a government agency of which you are a shareholder, Minister, has been reported to have breached their federal environmental approval at Lee Point, in Darwin, clearing ancient woodlands that made up a wildlife corridor for 260 of Australia's bird species, including 400-year-old trees. Locals in Darwin are horrified that this has happened, and they want action. This space is precious to the locals in the area, and they want government action. What action has your government done in relation to these breaches?

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

I thank Senator Hanson-Young for the question, and I note she has asked me a series of questions on this at estimates as well. I undertook, following that exchange, to make further inquiries and to go and visit Lee Point, in the Northern Territory, which I have done. I understand that the shareholders have written to the chairperson of Defence Housing Australia, reminding the board about our expectations in relation to activities at the Lee Point development.

We understand and I am advised that it wasn't to do with conditions of the Commonwealth EPBC Act. They have complied with the EPBC Act at every stage of the development; however, there was an issue, I think, with the Northern Territory department's planning conditions for stage 3. That is the one where, whilst the contractor was asked not to start clearing that area, clearing commenced. Work was stopped, and DHA has appointed an external investigator to examine the shortfalls in its own processes and really how that happened on the approvals that were actually, I think, a matter for the Northern Territory government.

I did go out and visit the site, and I walked around the site. Obviously, there is a lot of housing development up to the point where DHA's development is going ahead, so it is an area where there is already housing development. I would also say that I asked a number of stakeholders in the Northern Territory about that development. There is also a lot of support for this development because of the housing shortage in the NT and the need to expand the supply of housing. So I accept that there's controversy in some areas, but there's also some significant support. (Time expired)

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

Senator Hanson-Young, first supplementary?

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

I would put to the minister that you can build houses without knocking down 400-year-old trees and you can do this in areas where there is not that sensitivity of the environment. I would ask the minister—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Senator Hanson-Young, please resume your seat. Order across the chamber! Order!

Honourable senators interjecting—

I'm still waiting for order. Senator Hanson-Young, please continue.

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

I would ask the minister to investigate the allegations that stage 5 has bulldozed 400-year-old trees, outside of approval under EPBC.

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

I am happy to follow that up. I understood that the issues related to a different stage of the development, but I will follow that up in relation to stage 5. I also directly asked the managing director of DHA, Mr Jackson, about whether or not any 400-year-old trees had been bulldozed, and the answer I was given was no—that none had. I am happy to go back on that as well.

I would note that, under the Minister for the Environment and Water, there have been further conditions put on this development: another buffer for the Gouldian finch habitat; some further conditions around invasive grass; ensuring that, I think, there's an extra 37 hectares of additional reserve at Lee Point. The Northern Territory government has also subsequently created a 1,500-hectare national park around there. So there are additional safeguards, but there is housing— (Time expired)

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

Senator Hanson-Young, second supplementary?

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

The minister has referenced the environment minister's role in this. Australia's environment laws are clearly not up to scratch. They can't even protect the environment from the government's own bulldozers. The laws are broken; they need to be fixed. When will your government act?

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

The minister for the environment has been working on reforms to environment laws. We have also been resourcing the department so that it can actually deal with the approvals and requirements of different applications so that those aren't getting stalled and they can be considered. We have been dealing with the nature-positive bill in this place—I think for the first stage of it. And there are more to come, as Senator Hanson-Young knows. We will keep talking with stakeholders to refine that legislation and ensure that the laws are as robust as they can be.

On the issues about the defence housing authority's role in Lee Point, I have not had stage 5 raised with me, so I will undertake to go back and have a look at what stage 5 has. We have balanced improved responses under the nature-positive laws to ensure that there are protections, but, at the same time, this development will provide 800 new homes in Darwin. (Time expired)