Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

I know it suits the agenda of the Australian Greens to come in and to, of course, make everything the fault of the government standing here, to ignore completely the reality of decision-making that might be the responsibility of state or territory governments, to figure that the EPBC Act is somehow a one-stop shop for every form of protection to occur. But the truth lies elsewhere. It certainly doesn't lie in the picture painted by the Australian Greens. I in no way condone unnecessary destruction of heritage, particularly of Indigenous heritage, which has a crucial role to play in sectors such as our tourism industry and, of course, is so important in terms of preserving the culture of our First Australians. But I won't take lectures from the Australian Greens or suggestions that somehow the policies of this government are at fault or are to blame for actions or decisions of state or territory governments and their regulatory authorities.