Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is indeed typical of the coalition. When it comes Labor raising concerns about environmental matters they try to shut us down. This is of grave urgency to our community. The National Party is about to send 900 riot police to break up farmers and children. I would like to place on record that the state National Party members for Tweed, Ballina, Clarence and Lismore will be held personally responsible if one person is hurt when they send their riot police into Bentley over the coming days. It is the most shameful act that I have seen this state government pursue. There have been quite a few shameful acts since they were elected but this is absolutely horrendous. It really highlights the lack of environmental credibility the coalition have at both the state and federal levels. We are discussing here the green army, and they have shown their lack of environmental credibility. That certainly extends across the federal government and onto the state government right through all of those issues that I have talked about. In my area I think it is best highlighted by the fact that the National Party actively pursued the expansion of coal seam gas mining—and, when they do not get their way, they send in riot police. So we will be watching very closely what happens over the next few days.

I would like to talk about Labor's proud tradition of protecting the environment.

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