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 McAllister. One of the greatest threats to endangered Australian wildlife like the koala and the swift parrot is the destruction of their habitat, yet the majority—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

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

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order on my left! Order! I am waiting for quiet.

Order, Senator McKim! That applies to you when I call order. Senator Hanson-Young, I'm going to invite you to begin your question again, and I'm going to ask for the clock to be reset. Please begin again.

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

Thank you, President. My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator McAllister. One of the greatest threats to endangered Australian wildlife like the koala and the swift parrot is the destruction of their habitat, yet the majority of deforestation in Australia is not assessed by our federal environment laws. Why does the logging industry get an exemption that not even the miners get?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Emergency Management) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The senator asks about the approach that this government takes to environment protection. The senator, in fact, already knows the answer to this question, which is that the Australian government has embarked on a program of law reform to improve the laws which govern the way that environment issues are managed in this country. In fact, we did that on the basis of a report that was commissioned by the previous government and delivered by Professor Samuel, who recommended wide-ranging changes to Australia's environment laws. At this point in time, the second tranche of legislation to implement those policy reforms is before this chamber. In fact, it is open to the Greens to vote for that legislation—to vote for legislation that would put a tough cop on the beat and increase penalties. It is surprising to me that the Greens political party continue to insist that they do not intend to vote for this legislation at all and that, despite going to the electorate and saying that you're the people who want to see reform, you're indicating that you don't want to see Environment Protection Australia, a new national authority, established.

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

Are you going to mention forests—you know, the f-word?

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

Senator McKim!

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Emergency Management) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim interjects, and he asks about the approach to native forestry. What I indicated to you earlier in my comments, Senator, is that the program of reform that the government's embarked upon is comprehensive and, as part of that reform, we've publicly indicated—we have made it very clear—that native forest logging will be regulated by national environment laws for the first time ever through a national environment standard. The question for you is whether you're in the cart for this reform or not. (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

The Samuel report clearly said that the exemption for the regional forest agreements should be removed. Previously, the Labor government have said they would do this. I want to know: will you get it done while you can in this term of government?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Emergency Management) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I indicated in my answer to your primary question, Senator, we have legislation before this parliament to implement our proposed nature positive laws. Your party have publicly indicated that you do not intend to vote for them. It's up to you to explain to the Australian public why you won't vote for legislation which establishes stronger penalties, which establishes stronger compliance arrangements and which has been asked for and supported by Australian environmental groups as well as Australian businesses.

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

Order! Minister McAllister, please resume your seat. Senator McKim, I've called you at least four times. Your constant interjections are rude, disrespectful and disorderly. You will listen in silence or you can leave the chamber. That's your choice. Minister McAllister, please continue.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Emergency Management) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was indicating to the Senate, we have a comprehensive program of reform in place. We have legislation before the Senate to which support has been provided by environment stakeholders and by business stakeholders. The actual truth is that the current laws are not working in the way that we need them to. They're not protecting the environment adequately and we need reform, and the question is why the Greens won't get involved— (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

It's extraordinary how many words need to be said to try and avoid using the word 'forest'. If these logging loopholes aren't closed and Australia continues to be the global deforestation hotspot, how on earth does the government expect to stop extinction of our wildlife?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Emergency Management) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It can be at difficult times to answer a question that is entirely unresponsive to the information that's already been provided, so I will go back to the original information that I gave you, Senator, which is this: as part of our Nature Positive Plan, we have said that native forest logging will be regulated under national environment laws for the first time ever through national environment standards. We have put this proposition forward, and we have sought support in this chamber for the reform package. Tranche 2 is in front of you. You have yet to explain why you won't vote for those laws, which improve penalties, which improve information-gathering powers and which establish a better architecture to police environment laws and—

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

Minister McAllister, please resume your seat. Senator McKim, please take up my invitation to either cease your interjections or leave the chamber. Minister McAllister, please continue.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Emergency Management) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand that we are approaching an election and that this is a favourite area for the Greens, but the actual truth that they can't escape is that there are environment laws before this chamber that they are refusing— (Time expired)