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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, is the Prime Minister aware that industrial salmon-farming corporations in Tasmania are responsible for millions of fish deaths in the last month alone—egregious animal cruelty by suffocating countless live fish—devastation of the marine environment by blanketing vast swathes of the sea floor with sludge and slime, pollution of much-loved beaches to the extent that people can't go swimming without bumping into rotten salmon carcasses or walking on beaches without their feet being coated by stinking, congealed remnants of dead salmon, and the looming extinction of an ancient species? Why, in the middle of a social, environmental, animal welfare and extinction crisis, is the Prime Minister choosing to work with Mr Dutton to gut Australia's environment protection laws for the benefit of multinational corporations who pay no tax?

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

Thank you, Senator, for the question. This is a specific amendment to address a flaw in the EPBC Act, and what I would say to you, Senator, is we're not going to stand by and see workers lose their jobs because the law is broken. I know that we are the Labor Party and we care about jobs, and I know that—

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Cyber Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Doesn't Tanya know that?

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

Order!

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What happened to Tanya?

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

Order! Senator Henderson, which part of 'order' doesn't apply to you? Minister, please continue.

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

I know that Senator Urquhart and all of the Tasmania Labor senators know firsthand the importance of Tasmanian jobs, and I know that your party doesn't have the same view about Tasmanian jobs, Senator. That is—

An honourable senator: It's inconvenient.

You make assertions about the motivation for this and you like to use the word 'corporations'. You don't talk about workers; you don't talk about jobs.

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

Order! Minister Wong, please resume your seat. When I call for order, it also applies to the party at the back of the room. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

You talk about corporations; we talk about workers. We don't hear you talking about workers and jobs and the communities who rely on them. What I would say to you, Senator, is we know these laws—

The:

Order! Senator Whish-Wilson, you are drowning out the minister.

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

Senator Whish-Wilson, you are not in an argument with me. I want there to be silence, and I expect silence.

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

It is unfortunate that these laws over the last 10 years have not been reformed, and it's also unfortunate that we haven't been in a position to gain sufficient support in this place, and also through the community, for reform to these laws that—I think there is broad agreement from both sides of the debate—are broken. I think there is broad agreement that the environmental laws of this country are broken and that they don't—

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

They don't protect the environment. They're broken because they don't protect the environment.

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

Order! Senator McKim, I should not have to be calling out individual senators. I've asked for silence. You are being disrespectful towards me. Save your comments for taking note of answers or some other time. Do not direct them at me when I've called for order.

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

These laws don't protect the environment sufficiently, nor do they protect workers and the community they— (Time expired)

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

Senator McKim, first supplementary?

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

Minister, why is the Prime Minister claiming that the legislation is limited in effect to salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour when, in fact, it is not? Can you confirm that the legislation to amend the EPBC Act, just introduced in the House, contains nothing whatsoever that would preclude it from preventing the environment minister from reconsidering fossil fuel projects, other mines, land-clearing actions or large industrial developments?

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

There are two points I'd say. The first is these are specific amendments to address a flaw in the EPBC Act, and the second is I predict that it doesn't matter what my answer is; you're going to make those scare campaigns anyway because you don't support these changes. That is the approach the Australian Greens take. I've seen this over many years. That is the approach you will take on these issues. I think it is very clear that there is a problem with these laws. It is something that has been identified over a number of years, including under the previous government, and the fact that this legislation is having to come forward is a demonstration of the flaws in the current act.

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

Senator McKim, second supplementary?

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

Minister, you say that the legislation is to correct a flaw in the EPBC Act. Is the flaw that your government has discovered that, in a limited range of cases, the act actually does give effect to protection of the environment? Is that the flaw that you are referring to?

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

No, that is not the case. That is not what I mean. The existing law means an industry has to shut down overnight when an environmental assessment commences.

Why is it that you cannot listen to me without shouting? Would you like me just to sit down? All you are doing is shouting. If you want shouting time, not question time, I'm happy to sit down, and you can just shout for a while.

If the clock's being run out, look in the mirror.

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

Minister Wong, I invite you to respond to me.

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

Sorry. They just seem to have difficulty not shouting.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move shouting time!

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

You move shouting time, but they will probably second it! I suspect that we would lose that vote.

The existing law means an industry has to be shut down when an assessment commences. It's not acceptable for the government, and I venture to suggest that it's not acceptable to the community.