John Watson (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that general business of motion No. 618, relating to government funding for the Australian environment, be taken as a formal motion.

John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal?

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before that is taken as formal, I seek leave to move an amendment to that motion.

John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal? Senator Watson has not moved it yet. There is no objection to the motion being taken as formal.

John Watson (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

the Howard Government has placed a high priority on caring for the Australian environment and has shown this by providing funding based on good science that has helped to protect more than 8 million hectares of wetlands, treat 400,000 hectares of land for salinity and erosion, and helps some 800,000 volunteers get involved in on-ground work, and

(ii)

the recently announced $13.4 million New South Wales Wetland Recovery Plan will include projects designed to improve knowledge of wetland and environmental water management, improve water flows, and address noxious weeds in the Macquarie Marshes and Gwydir Wetlands regions; and

(b)

congratulates the Howard Government on its initiatives in this area.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for your guidance, Mr Deputy President. I seek leave to move an amendment to the motion.

John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The motion has been circulated, I understand.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is an amendment to the next motion—

John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a different one?

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is leave granted for Senator Brown to move an amendment to Senator Watson’s motion?

Leave not granted.

The question therefore is that the motion moved by Senator Watson be agreed to.