House debates

Thursday, 4 April 2019

Questions without Notice

Communities Environment Program

2:37 pm

Photo of Mr Tony BurkeMr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the environment minister. Given the minister just said the government has not awarded any money, how does the minister explain the member for Dunkley's public statement: 'I was very happy to announce with the environment minister, Melissa Price, that the applicant would be receiving an additional $10,000 as part of the federal Liberal government's Communities Environment Program'? How does the minister explain personally appearing in a video with the member and the community group at the exact same time that Labor members were being told by the department that no information on the program was available?

Photo of Melissa PriceMelissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | | Hansard source

The Communities Environment Program is not open. Information has been out for some time. On 4 March, I stood with the Prime Minister and we announced—

Mr Bowen interjecting

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for McMahon!

Photo of Melissa PriceMelissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | | Hansard source

What a good local member is the member for Dunkley. He invited me to speak to a number of really good local community environment projects, and we should be supporting that. In fact, I encourage all those opposite to get out there and start talking about what the expressions of interest are that you might be open to. It's a good opportunity for you also to be talking about our $100 million restoration fund for really good environment projects—those projects where you can help the waterways and clean up those rivers, or good waste projects and other good environment projects. While you're there you might talk about our $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Fund and the $2 billion more for the Emissions Reduction Fund.

What do we get from those opposite? I don't know that we'll hear tonight about how much the 45 per cent emissions reduction target's going to cost the Australian people. I think people would be very interested to know that—their reckless carbon policies that we've heard uncosted. What we would like to know tonight is: what is a reckless 45 per cent emissions target going to cost the Australian public? Can you also tell us how you're going to bridge that $1.3 billion turnaround? Perhaps you can tell the Australian public while you're at it.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business is seeking to table documents, by the look of it.

2:39 pm

Photo of Mr Tony BurkeMr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | | Hansard source

Yes, a number of documents. I seek leave to table the announcements of $20,000, of $10,000 and of $7½ thousand and the full media release from the member with quotes in it from the Minister for the Environment.

Leave not granted.