Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind senators that yesterday evening two matters relating to proposed references to committees were deferred. I understand it suits the convenience of the Senate to hold those votes now. I'm going to deal with the first matter, and that is the motion moved by Senators Colbeck and Cadell.

The question is that the following matter be referred to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 December 2023:

The adequacy and fairness of processes and compensation to acquire or compulsorily access agricultural land, Indigenous land, marine environments and environmental lands for the development of major renewable infrastructure, including wind farms, solar farms and transmission lines, with particular reference to:

(a) power imbalance between farmers and fishers, and governments and energy companies seeking to compulsorily acquire or access their land or fishing grounds;

(b) terms and conditions for compulsory access and acquisition;

(c) fairness of compensation;

(d) options for the development of a fair national approach to access and acquisition;

(e) options to maintain and ensure the rights of farmers and fishers to maintain and ensure productivity of agriculture and fisheries; and

(f) any other matter.