Monique Ryan (Kooyong, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Gas extraction from the Beetaloo basin will detonate a 1.4 billion tonne carbon bomb. The Northern Territory Chief Minister and our federal climate minister admitted last week that the jurisdictions outside the Territory will have to help offset those emissions. Can you please inform the House which jurisdictions will be lifting that load, and exactly how will they be doing it?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is to the wrong minister, so I'm just wanting to—do we want to get the correct minister up? There's an answer to be given but the question's been asked of the wrong minister.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister is entitled to address the issue and then may refer the remainder of the question to another minister who is responsible under the standing orders.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks very much for the question. That actually is a question to Minister Bowen, and I will ask Minister Bowen to answer the question.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Exhausted your knowledge!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Opposition, that comment is not appropriate. I'm going to just move on and ask the minister to continue with the answer.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for the question, and I thank the minister for infrastructure for quite rightly referring it to me. In this government we have one minister for energy who is responsible for these matters!

In relation to the honourable member's question: our safeguard reforms, which I acknowledge the honourable member supported, make it clear that scope 1 emissions from any shale gas extraction must be net zero; that's reflected in the safeguard rules I brought down. In addition, in relation to Beetaloo, this government is 100 per cent committed to recommendation 9.8 of the Pepper review; I indicated that as late as last week on Darwin radio, which I think is what the honourable member is indicating. We remain committed to that recommendation. I would've thought that's a very sensible thing to do because it was an important recommendation. I have indicated that that has cross-jurisdictional implications because there are substantial emissions involved. To properly ensure that that obligation is met, it is appropriate for the climate and energy ministers council to consider the cross-border ramifications as to where the gas is sent, where it is emitted and how it should be offset, and I've referred to the ministerial council for further consideration.