Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Whish-Wilson. There are a number of senators who've contacted me about this issue regarding funding, most of whom are Labor Party senators from Tasmania, who have been very good advocates for their state and have been making the point to me—in fact, Senator Dowling did it only a few days ago, as have the other Tasmanian senators who've all raised this point with me. We are aware that the very important funding that has been provided by the federal government to that research centre is reaching the end. Of course that, along with many other programs across government, needs to be considered through a usual budget process, but we're very supportive and very proud of the research that's been undertaken by those scientists, and I thank them for their important work. It is important that we have science informing government decision-making about the management of Tasmania. I recognise Senator Lambie, who's also written to me about this point.