Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Birmingham. Noting the government's deal with Labor to slash the Renewable Energy Target, will the government confirm that it now has done a deal with the crossbench to further undermine the Renewable Energy Target by putting additional restrictions on new wind developments?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Minister, your answer flies in the face of a letter published today by The Guardian approximately 15 minutes ago, which shows that Minister Hunt—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just a moment, Senator Waters. A point of order, Senator Macdonald.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is that this is clearly a debate, Mr President. The senator is quoting newspapers and arguing with the minister, and she should be brought into line.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. The senator is in order. Senator, you have the call.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Your answer flies in the face of a letter on Minister Hunt's letterhead just published on The Guardian website showing that the government has agreed with the crossbench to undermine wind energy by imposing new planning restrictions, appointing a wind farm commissioner and acting on the recommendations of the anti-wind farm inquiry. Would you like to correct the record, Minister, that there is no deal?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Waters for the questions. Senator Waters, you invited me in the first question to confirm if we had done a deal as such. The answer to that is no. Has the government been engaged in discussions with the crossbenchers in relation to the committee report and work that is being done in the chamber? Yes, those discussions have been happening.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Minister, the letter clearly establishes that you will deliver certain things in exchange for votes from the crossbench on native forests. Given your red-tape reduction plan, how do you justify new red tape on an industry which has the potential to generate clean energy, thousands of jobs and billions of dollars?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We make no apologies for the fact that we are consulting with crossbenchers to address concerns they have, which are reflected from communities that they represent, as well as concerns that senators on this side have, like Senator Back. No apologies for that. No deal has been done though, Senator. If you care about the future of the renewable energy sector then what you would be doing is supporting the opposition and the government in making sure we give certainty to the Renewable Energy Target, that we make the adjustments to the renewable energy legislation that is before this chamber, that we give them the certainty to be able to achieve the 20 per cent target that we are legislating for through this chamber at present, which will deliver 23 per cent of renewable energy by 2020. That is what the government are legislating for. We have the legislation before this Senate. You are trying to oppose it and block it. We want to get on and make sure we deliver on that policy, on that commitment. (Time expired)

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek your indulgence as we would like your ruling on whether the minister has actually misled the chamber in the course of his answers today.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, that is not something for me to determine at this point in time, and I believe the minister has been answering the question correctly. I see no infringement of the standing orders whatsoever. Do you have a further point of order, Senator Waters?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, Mr President, we are seeking for you to check the Hansard and try to establish whether the minister has in fact deeply misled the chamber.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think you are now casting an aspersion on the minister, Senator Waters. I do not believe the minister has been out of order at all, and I do not believe there is any need for me to check the Hansard. You are establishing a debating point on a question you have asked. The minister has answered the question in accordance with the standing orders. If I need to come back to the chamber with anything other than what I have just said, I will do so in the future.