Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Minister for the Environment. There are now three biofuels projects almost shovel ready—Ingham NQBE, Charters Towers and Townsville UBurIS and Atherton Tablelands StaDS—producing nil emissions, 10 per cent of Australia's petrol and three per cent of its diesel. In light of US Pacific Fleet interest in biodiesel and AIMS research showing that CO2 increases causes flowering coral to be deflowered, could he assure a flowering of the north and stop any naughty deflowering please?

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Kennedy for his question asked with characteristic elan. I will say this: in just that question, he has asked 50 per cent of the questions that the entire Labor Party has asked about the environment in the last two years, and that one question was twice as good.

Firstly, I join with him in being delighted at the fact that a reef that we inherited on the path to being listed as in danger is off that track and is now being proclaimed by the United Nations. Secondly, in relation to his three projects, there are probably three things that we are doing that can help. But I will say this: all of this is being done as we prepare very shortly for a Northern Australia white paper which will open up the great north to immense opportunity.

The three things we are doing at these. Firstly, we are removing barriers to new projects. To the best of my knowledge, none of those three projects are currently seeking federal environmental approval; but, if they do, they will be subject to a one-stop shop which has seen us clear $1 trillion of backlogged approvals under a process which they proposed in government and opposed in opposition.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's not true, Greg.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, you go back to 2012—April COAG, Dunce. But it was a great performance last night, Burkey—one of your stellar performances! The best since Thredbo, I have got to say. Keep it coming, Buddy!

Honourable members interjecting—

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order—

Government members interjecting—

When the baying stops on the other side: that was a clearly unparliamentary expression and it should be withdrawn.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister would assist the House by withdrawing.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw. Not only is there the one-stop shop. Beyond that, we are also providing incentives for emissions reduction. The first Emissions Reduction Fund auction: 47 million tonnes—in Queensland, 19 projects. I believe, from what I have heard, that these projects may well comply under the transport methodology. So there is another opportunity—barriers gone, incentives in place and, thirdly, we can provide incentives for new workforce development. And we can do that by giving young people training through the Green Army. Already 300 projects have commenced, even though we said it would be only 250 this year. In your electorate, I think the figure is: 24 projects have been announced and a number of those have commenced. So we are removing barriers. We are providing incentives and we are allowing new people to enter the workforce, so we can help if you have a project that you want to bring forward.