Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources) Share this | Hansard source

With the catch-all of 'any other sources prescribed by the regulations', would it be possible for the regulations under this act to be varied to include gas from the seabed, much like in the definition that the Greens political party put forward in their own Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Expanding the Water Trigger) Bill 2023 [No. 2]? I want to clarify that this bill would not currently require but does enable regulations which would capture all offshore gas extraction, should the definition of 'unconventional' be changed. I want to understand: is the Minister for the Environment and Water the determining minister for these regulations? Does consultation with any other ministers or state jurisdictions have to occur prior to this change?

Section 528(b) on page 3 of sheet SF110 includes references to projects covered by the amendment 'when considered with other developments, whether past, present or reasonably foreseeable developments'. Minister, what is considered 'other developments' in this context? Will it include pipelines, transport infrastructure or storage facilities? I want to understand what consultation has occurred with regard to the wideranging scope of this caveat. Given that these amendments were only circulated at 6 pm this evening, I would imagine that saying 'we will be introducing a water trigger' is a very broad topic.

Minister, finally—this is my last block of questions—AEMO and the ACCC have warned of imminent gas supply shortfalls as early as this summer. They've recommended a range of solutions, which include the urgent need for upgraded pipeline capacity from Queensland to the southern states—suitable storage facilities. Without these upgrades and an urgent increase in gas supply, households and businesses may face blackouts and energy shortages this summer. Does the amendment to the EPBC water trigger in this bill increase or decrease the regulatory burden on gas companies? Is the government concerned that this capitulations to the Greens political party's demands to rush this amendment will impede the approval of other developments, which will risk gas supply? Finally, has the government done any consultation on the risk to future investments in gas projects in Australia that will affect future royalties, company taxes, PAYG taxes and employment of hardworking Australians?