Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

We do have two houses of parliament, Minister, and this process is for senators as representatives of their state to examine the provisions of legislation. While I have some sympathy that you are the minister representing the actual minister, these are serious questions and people are actually very interested in coal seam gas and in the environment minister's powers to protect the environment, so I ask you to reflect on my earlier question. I know you have some very learned advisers in the box there who I know are across the COAG amendments to palm off half of the federal minister's powers to the states. I would seek an answer to my earlier question. If you cannot give it straight away, although I will be disappointed by that, fine, take it on notice, but I would like an answer to that question.