Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water (Senator McAllister) to a question without notice I asked today relating to the maugean skate.

I started this week on Monday morning with a contribution on the maugean skate, following an editorial in a Tasmanian newspaper, The Advocate. The editor had made some comments, and I think it's fair to say I was furious when I read those comments. The editor had commented that, while he might find it unfortunate if 'that damned fish', the maugean skate, went extinct, it's not something he would lose sleep over. I've reflected on my comments on Monday morning and my fury, and something has occurred to me. To give Mr Haneveer credit, at least he spoke what he believed to be the truth. He said out loud the quiet thing that a lot of decision-makers haven't been prepared to say, which is that they really don't give a rat's arse about a species that's likely to go extinct.

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

Please restraint your language.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw that. It's a bit of pub vernacular.

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

We're not in a pub.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They really don't care that a species is on the edge of extinction. I haven't heard any concern from any of the politicians in this chamber who support the salmon industry in Tasmania about the fact that this ancient creature that's been with us since the time of the dinosaurs is on the edge of extinction, based on all the best science that we have. Sure as the sun rises in the morning, if we don't care that a creature is about to become extinct, especially when we're leaders—whether the editor of a newspaper or a politician—then it will become extinct. It's 100 per cent sure it will become extinct.

Where do we draw the line if we don't do what we can to prevent an animal becoming extinct because it's inconvenient for the salmon industry in Tasmania—or the Tasmanian devil because of a wind farm in one of its last known disease-free habitats, or the swift parrot because of logging in its critical habitat? Where do we draw the line when we've got 2½ thousand endangered species in this country alone?

It's great that we had politicians going to Minister Plibersek's session out the front here for endangered species. It's good that they can choose to connect with an animal, and I hope that they do when they go along. Of course, it's those charismatic animals that we tend to love and talk to our friends about. But there is such a broad array of wonderful creatures in this country that are on the edge of extinction. It's absolutely critical that we understand that what these 2½ thousand or so endangered creatures in Australian habitats, and other endangered creatures—and there are many more of them around the world—all have in common is that we can link them to a decision of government.

I wanted to ask my question of Senator McAllister today because of my fury on Monday morning around what I felt was a very irresponsible editorial by the Advocate newspaper. I wanted to see if the government cared about the maugean skate, and I'm none the wiser from today's answers. I asked why it's taken 221 days for the government to make a decision on this. I know senators across the chamber, like Senator Duniam, also would like the minister to hurry up. Of course, they're champing at the bit for her to hurry up so they can farm more salmon and push the skate to the brink of extinction. I'd like them to be honest about that. If they don't care about the extinction of a species, come out and say it, like Mr Haneveer did. At least say the quiet thing out loud. That way, people know and they understand just what we're up against.

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

They can co-exist.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They know just what we're up against, Senator Duniam—that politicians and other people in my home state of Tasmania and elsewhere just don't care about this extinction crisis that we're facing. That way, they can vote. That way, they can lobby their local members of parliament to actually do something about this, because politicians have it in their hands if they choose to act. It is that simple. We can protect nature now by making the right decisions and getting some decent environment laws and a whole range of other things. Thank you for listening, Deputy President, and giving me a few extra seconds.

Question agreed to.