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

Thanks to Senator Pocock for the questions. While I'm on my feet, I will acknowledge a few high-profile and very committed people in the gallery, leaders of a number of Australia's peak environmental organisations. Thank you, of course, for your engagement through this process over a long period of time. I hope that today you can celebrate some of the big wins for the environment that have come through your advocacy—of course, in addition to the big wins for business because, remember, this is a balanced package.

I want to also acknowledge, in the gallery, the person who first argued for a balanced package, Professor Graeme Samuel, whose review, handed down over five years ago today, really did lay the groundwork for what we've been able to achieve today. Professor Samuel, I really appreciate also the personal support you've provided to me through this process. You've been at hand anytime that we've needed any of your advice. I hope you feel really proud of what the parliament will be achieving today as well.

Senator Pocock, in terms of the national environmental standards, you're right that Professor Samuel's report recommended a number of standards—in fact, provided draft standards for consideration. As I indicated this morning, in the earlier committee stage, there are two standards that are now available and open for consultation regarding matters of national environmental significance and environment offsets. There will need to be a formal statutory consultation period regarding those standards, and I would anticipate that will commence in the new year.

I also indicated, as to questions from Senator Hanson-Young, that we are well advanced in the drafting of a First Nations engagement standard. We will also be preparing a community consultation standard. And, as you've recognised, there are a range of other standards that Professor Samuel recommended; I would expect that we will be proceeding with all of them. To be honest with you, I've forgotten exactly what they are, but certainly, in broad terms—we are also preparing one regarding data, environmental data and information. Put it this way: I certainly haven't decided to not proceed with any of the standards that Professor Samuel recommended.