Senate debates
Monday, 18 March 2024
Questions without Notice
Energy
4:16 pm
Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Farrell. The government's first legislative act of the year was to silence First Nations voices, breaking an election promise to strengthen the environment laws by allowing gas companies to bypass environment and consultation requirements completely. Last week's rushed half-day hearing into a bill revealed a wide range of stakeholders had no idea about the bypass provision and called for it to be removed.
Outside of your gas stoners, who did the government consult with specifically regarding schedule 2 part 2 of this bill, and specifically which First Nations groups were consulted and over what period of time?
Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I thank Senator Cox for her question. As I spoke about in an earlier answer, the cabinet has been to the Northern Territory only last week. I guess, one of the developments in the Northern Territory is that there will be a supply of gas coming from the Northern Territory to assist particularly the East Coast of Australia with guaranteed and reliable gas supply. This government doesn't apologise for continuing to support the gas industry to ensure that the lights stay on so that even basket weavers like yourself, Senator Cox, can have lights at night-time.
Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Minister Farrell, withdraw that comment.
Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I withdraw.
Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The long and the short of the answer, Senator Cox, is that we reject your proposition. The review—
Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator McKim, on a point of order?
Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
This is an obvious point of order on relevance, President. Senator Cox didn't make a proposition; she asked some questions.
Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
We are two-thirds of the way through and Senator Farrell has not even got close to answering the question.
Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Senator McKim, I am yet to hear your point of order.
Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
My point of order is relevance. The minister has not been relevant to the question in any way.
Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
There was a preamble to the question and there was a specific reference to schedule 2 at the end of Senator Cox' s question. I am more than happy to draw that to the minister's attention, but the minister has been relevant to the question.
Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
A public consultation process was run between 12 January and 8 March 2024.
Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
That was not the question.
Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
This was the question, and I am answering it directly. There will be future consultations in the first half of the year. All provisions of the bill were outlined in the explanatory memorandum and outlined by Minister King in her second reading speech. The bill is currently subject to— (Time expired)
4:19 pm
Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
As usual, we get no answers. This is the second piece of legislation in eight months that the Albanese government has introduced to financially benefit gas corporations. In previous question times, Senator Wong admitted that the sea dumping bill was for Santos. Will you be equally forthcoming and advise the Senate that this schedule 2 part 2 is fulfilling Santos's request to the Minister for Resources?
4:20 pm
Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I thank Senator Cox for her first supplementary question. The reality is that this government, the Albanese Labor government, is moving towards net zero. We have a policy of achieving net zero by 2050. But there is a long time between right now and getting to that point in time. One of the things that is absolutely vital is that we keep the lights on, that we keep industry going, and we keep people jobs until we can make the transition.
I talked in one of my earlier answers about the fact that we are supporting the development of the extraction and processing of rare earths and critical minerals in the Northern Territory. We are doing that because the long-term future— (Time expired)
4:21 pm
Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Why is this government, who claim they wanted a Voice to this parliament, now actively silencing the voices of First Nations people fighting to protect their sea country from the climate- and environment-trashing gas cartel?
Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I've just explained to you the consultation process that has gone on. We continue to have discussions about this. But the reality, Senator Cox—and it beggars belief that the Greens can't understand that—is that you can't turn a switch, turn gas off, and turn renewable energy on. You cannot do that. It's impossible to do it. So in the meantime—
Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The point of order is on relevance. I asked why this government, who said they wanted a Voice to parliament, are now denying First Nations people who want to oppose these gas projects on their own country and in sea country, why this government is doing that actively?
Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I believe the minister is being relevant. I will continue to listen carefully.
Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The reality is we are not going to get to net zero overnight. There needs to be a transition from where we are at the moment. We are engaging. This is the government that supported a Voice to parliament for Indigenous Australians. In my home state of South Australia this weekend, the state government— (Time expired)