Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Mr Albanese has totally humiliated his Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, and his second preference allies in the Australian Greens by scuttling a deal on his so-called nature-positive laws which, in reality, are laws all about killing mining investment and mining jobs. Isn't it true, however, that Mr Albanese is planning to reintroduce these laws or similar laws after the next election and has not abandoned these disastrous laws at all?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to the first part of the question, it seems that the deputy leader is arguing that there should be more bills added to the guillotine today, whereas before I thought she was waxing, quite outraged, about the fact that the bills—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) | Link to this | Hansard source

So you're bringing them in after the election.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Do you want me to give an answer, or do you just want to keep talking?

Alright, you want to keep talking. That's fine. You keep talking.

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

Minister Wong, have you finished your contribution?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate the ability to respond. First, in relation to passing legislation, the Deputy Leader was waxing quite outraged this morning and is now suggesting that we should be adding a bill to the guillotine. In relation to the national environment laws—and I know that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is desperate to run a scare campaign in Western Australia, so desperate—obviously, we are very conscious of the importance of engagement with the states and territories about this. We are very conscious that delivering improvements to national environment laws will require common sense and cooperation, and that is the approach the government will be taking.

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

Senator Cash, first supplementary question?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the Prime Minister give the Australian people—and, in particular, the people of Western Australia—an ironclad guarantee that it's nature positive legislation, or any similar legislation, will not be reintroduced into the parliament?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

I would make the point that my recollection—and I might be wrong, because there is a lot that has been happening—is this legislation was a response to the review which was commissioned by your now deputy leader, Ms Ley. I know that doesn't sit well with your scare campaign, but Professor Graeme Samuel made some very important observations and recommendations about the problem with Australia's environmental laws, including the fact that the laws were working not for business nor for the environment. Having said that, what you will continue to see from this government, and certainly from the Prime Minister, is a recognition that delivering improvements to legal frameworks around the country requires cooperation and common sense. That is the approach he has taken on all policy areas and that is the approach that will be taken on this one.

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

Senator Cash, second supplementary question?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) | Link to this | Hansard source

Every Western Australian knows that mining is the backbone of our state's economy. Why is the Prime Minister creating uncertainty and confusion in the mining sector by his refusal to completely abandon laws which will destroy investment and jobs in this sector?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I remind the senator that, in part, the reforms ensure faster, clearer decision-making for business, something that business has been calling for since 2020, which was when the former minister for the environment and the now Deputy Leader of the Opposition commissioned Professor Samuel to review the act. The problem with your scare campaign, Senator Cash—

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a truth-telling campaign.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

No, it is not. It is another Senator Cash scare campaign, and she always wants them, whether it's the dark ages—do you remember how industrial law reform would take us back to the dark ages? This is a shadow minister who always goes too far, who always overexaggerates, who always goes too far, and who always says things will close down in Australia. We've heard it all before and it's simply untrue, Senator Cash.