John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

I understand that there is a time limit set, because of other pressing business in this chamber, for this debate to conclude at 11.30. I only want a couple of minutes to say that, whilst I was a member of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee, right from the outset I believed that this committee process should not have proceeded. It was nothing more—as was identified by Senator Bartlett—than a political stunt by the National Party and certain elements of the Liberal Party in south-east Queensland because they are bereft of support and are clinging to any issue they can, and so it was not going to the merits of the issue that was before the committee. This was purely and simply a beat-up. I know, and everyone knows, that there was real concern within the conservative parties’ caucus room as to whether or not this inquiry should go ahead. Why? Because they knew it was an inquiry into a state government matter and that it was ultimately a decision of the state government. If this had been an inquiry into the EPBC Act and its application by the minister, then that would have been a proper matter for the committee.