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

I move:

That the Senate take note of document 32 listed on today's Order of Business.

This document is in relation to an order that I put forward in this place some time ago. Sadly, while we've now been given the document, the government was over a month late coughing up the paperwork. It feels as though, every time you start asking the right questions, the government shuts down. They don't want to give you the right information if it's a tricky topic for them. That's not how the parliament works, and it's not how the Senate works. So, firstly, I'm a bit disappointed about that.

To the substance, this was in relation to documentation into the Vitrinite coalmine in Queensland, where the company, who want to expand their operations, currently have an application on foot in front of the minister's environment department asking for approval for this coalmine smack bang in the middle of critical koala habitat. Rather than waiting for approval to be given, this company has started the bulldozers and moved in. They've already demolished a significant amount of koala habitat without waiting for the green light. So they've illegally cleared forests and destroyed the habitat of koalas. They have no right to do this. It's illegal. It shouldn't have happened. But it is in exactly the same place for which this company had an application before the environment minister to expand their coalmine operations.

Why do companies like this do this? Of course, it's because they think, 'Act now. Beg for forgiveness later.' They don't want approval. They think they're going to get approval anyway. Even if they get a fine, it's cheaper for them to cop the fine and get a little rap on the knuckles for doing the wrong thing, because the government, time and time again, keeps giving them approval. This is a business model for these coal companies—these bulldozers of koala habitat and native forests and bushland.

I say to the minister that she needs to send a message. A strong message needs to be sent to this company, and all the others watching, that this is not on. The minister could go to the court and get an injunction, because these bulldozers are rolling on the ground now, destroying this habitat, despite not having been given approval to do so. The other strong message that the minister could give is that she could make it very clear that it's a 'one strike and you're out' policy where, if you do the wrong thing—if you disobey the law and thumb your nose at the process—you're not going to be given any more approvals—nada, done, finished, out of here. That's what should happen to this company.

It beggars belief that in 2024, when we have koalas facing extinction and we're in the midst of a climate crisis and a biodiversity crisis, we're even in a situation where the environment minister currently has an application before her. Coal or koala? It shouldn't be that hard a decision: coal—polluting coal—and bulldozers, or saving our native species, including the koala. How on earth is that a difficult decision to make?

Having said that, I note that the application is on foot and the minister must tell this company straight up right now, 'No, you've disobeyed the rules and thumbed your nose at the process.' They've called chicken on the minister and her department, and they should be punished for it. The minister needs to pick up the phone today and say, 'Tools down, and you're out.' It is ironic that we're even discussing this today, considering that one of the things that have been put on the parliamentary list for debate this year, of course, has been trying to fix Australia's environment laws. Well, you could start by saving the koala. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.