Ruth Webber (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As Deputy Opposition Whip, I initially want to indicate that this bill is here because we all agreed that it was a non-controversial piece of legislation. We seem to be debating amendments to it that I was not aware that we were going to have. I thought it was to be a pretty straightforward and non-controversial discussion.

However, having made that point in the politest possible way that I can, I also indicate that Labor will not be supporting the Democrats amendments to this piece of legislation as we believe that such amendments would have the effect of watering down section 140A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which explicitly precludes the approval of a nuclear installation. We believe that, whilst you can dress this up as being consultative or what have you, this measure does have the potential to weaken the existing arrangements. Therefore, Labor will not be supporting the amendments.