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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong, and it follows the revelations in today's front-page story in the Australian newspaper about the activities of the Environmental Defenders Office in the Barossa pipeline case in the Federal Court. Minister, how can the Albanese Labor government continue to fund the job-destroying EDO when it pays individuals to so brazenly collude and invent evidence, such as someone who was 'happy to move' the alleged resting place of a Rainbow Serpent on a map to 'where it seems most culturally appropriate'?

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

The first point I'd make is that I think the comments on the EDO's conduct by Justice Charlesworth in her judgement on this case really speak for themselves. I would say that we did go to the election with a clear commitment to restore funding; however, the government expects the Environmental Defenders Office to act ethically and professionally. The minister has also previously written to the CEO of the Environmental Defenders Office, making that clear. And I am advised that the court will make a decision on costs next week, as they should.

What I would say to the EDO is that there is a place for sensible, appropriate litigation to preserve the integrity of laws, and that I think all Australians, regardless of where they sit politically, would expect them to act, in terms of their remit, both ethically and professionally. I think the comments of the judge speak for themselves.

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

Senator Duniam, first supplementary question?

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

Minister, how can the Albanese Labor government continue to provide tens of millions of dollars of taxpayers' money to the job-destroying EDO, when it not only paid an individual to create an alleged expert report on the Barossa case that was sent back to them for their own wholesale editing to ensure it 'met expectations' but also paid the head of the Stop Barossa Gas campaign, who then, in turn, paid traditional owners to become involved in her campaign?

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

These are actions not of the government but of the EDO. I believe that there is a place in our system of laws to ensure there is the capacity to uphold a legal framework, but I do not believe, if you read Justice Charlesworth's comments, that the conduct of the EDO has met the standard that any of us in this place would expect should be met by an entity which is charged with assisting—I would say assisting—with the observance of laws in this country.

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

Senator Duniam, second supplementary?

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

Minister, why is your government not immediately, today, ending your multimillion dollar funding of the EDO? Do you agree or not agree that, as well as being eviscerated—as you've already referenced—by federal judge Justice Natalie Charlesworth, this organisation has been involved in many other nefarious and disgraceful activities throughout the period in which your government has been providing money to it?

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

I'm asked to respond to a range of unspecified assertions. I'm obviously not going to do that, Senator. But what I would say is that we went with an election commitment to restore funding to the EDO. I know that those opposite don't believe that there is a place for entities that have standing to be able to ensure that environmental laws are observed. But what I would say is that there is no place for unethical or unprofessional conduct, and that is the expectation that the minister has made clear to the CEO of the Environmental Defenders Office.