Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts, Senator Wong. What plans does the government have to remediate the King River on the west coast of Tasmania and what funds has the Rudd government allocated to this important environmental project?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you to Senator Colbeck for the question. It might not surprise him that I do not appear to have any advice in the chamber on this issue, which is obviously an issue of concern to him. I assume it is an issue of interest in the Tasmanian election; hence it is being asked today. In any event, regardless of why, I will seek advice from the minister for the environment on the issue and come back to the Senate.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I can confirm that it was a decision made by Minister Garrett last week. I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that the Rudd Labor government has not spent one cent of the previous Howard government’s $7.2 million commitment to the King River remediation project, and what has been the reason for the Rudd Labor government’s failure to undertake such important environmental work?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am not sure about Prime Minister Rudd making any decisions, Senator Colbeck. I am not sure whether the question relates to the Prime Minister or whether the senator is referring to the Minister for the Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts. Obviously I will obtain further advice on the issue. As I understand the question, though, it seems to relate to whether or not the government have delivered a coalition policy. It seems to be rather odd that I am being asked in this representing portfolio whether or not we, in fact, have delivered your policy. It was not asked of me whether or not we had delivered our policy. (Time expired)

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. When did the government make the decision to rip the funding from the King River project on the west coast and divert it to the fox task force? Is it a fact that prior to this decision the government had no plan to fund fox eradication in Tasmania?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Debating across the chamber at this time is completely disorderly on both sides.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think we have moved from rivers to foxes, Mr President.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Abetz interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! When we have silence we will proceed.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is original. Senator Abetz asked if the penny had finally dropped. It is such an original interjection; I have never heard that in my life before!

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, ignore the interjections.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will take advice on this issue. If this question relates, through you Mr President to Senator Colbeck, to Caring for our Country decisions—decisions made under that program by Ministers Garrett and Burke—there are occasions in which money is reallocated on advice in order to obtain the best environmental outcome for the funds which are expended. I am sure those issues would have been at the forefront of the minister’s mind if that were, in fact, the decision made. As I have previously said, I will obtain advice and inform the Senate of the same. (Time expired)