Senate debates Committees

Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Reference


Sarah Hanson-Young

Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens

4:32 pm

I move:

That the provisions of the Agriculture Biodiversity Stewardship Market Bill 2022 be referred to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 6 June 2022.

Anne Ruston

Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Slade Brockman

Slade Brockman President

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston

Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services

The government has been developing the biosecurity stewardship market since 2019, which has included the world-first development of a mechanism to measure biodiversity. Following introduction of the Agriculture Biodiversity Stewardship Market Bill 2022, the government looked to refer this legislation to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, which the Greens did not support. This is a cynical last-minute attempt by the Greens to become relevant in this debate. The government remains supportive of an inquiry into the legislation by the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee in the next term of the parliament.

Slade Brockman

Slade Brockman President

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Hanson-Young be agreed to.