Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion relating to that very issue, the Darwin LNG plant, as circulated in the chamber.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice standing in my name, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to give precedence to a motion relating to the Darwin LNG plant.

In question time on Monday, Minister Ayres undertook to get back to me and the Senate to clarify whether the leaking gas storage tank at Santos's Darwin LNG site would be used when the Barossa gas field starts up shortly. My office has been seeking answers all week from the minister, and, just before question time, I received a letter—which I acknowledge the minister has just tabled, thank you—but it doesn't answer my question. But it is urgent that this question is answered. It is critical that ministers are accountable to this place. That means that, when they say they will come back to the chamber with a clarification, they actually do so and then they provide something that does, in fact, clarify.

So let me put this issue in the simplest terms possible. There is a storage tank, which is currently empty, that we know was leaking heat-trapping methane for 19 years. And there is a new, dirty gas field—the dirtiest of all Australia's gas fields—that's able to start feeding methane into this leaking tank. And the federal government is saying, 'It's got nothing to do with us'—even though they approved the gas field that would use this leaky tank. Minister King hasn't answered—in full knowledge that this storage equipment is faulty—whether she will stop dangerous methane being stored there or pause the gas field approval until the leak is fixed. So I have to conclude that this government is fine to allow methane to leak into our atmosphere and accelerate global heating as well as expose the Darwin community to the associated health risks.

Why would the government allow this preventable destruction on our climate and our community? Because Santos are currently trying to sell this broken storage tank and the Barossa gas field to the United Arab Emirates government, and they don't want to cop a discount on the asking price. Why would Minister King not require the tank to be repaired or replaced? As a major donor, stakeholder and future employer, Santos had the government introduce legislation on their behalf and for their financial interests in the last parliament. So turning a blind eye to a gas leak until it gets the Northern Territory government's approval in two weeks time was apparently an easy choice for the minister.

The federal government may not have jurisdiction over the gas tank, but they do have power over the Barossa gas field and over ensuring that no gas flows from that project until the leak is fixed. They can choose to act in the interests of people and the environment rather than gas company profits, and it's about time they made that choice.

It's a good thing that the Commonwealth has oversight here, because this week, on the radio, the head of the Northern Territory EPA, Dr Vogel, said, 'Due to the low environmental risks and the high costs associated with fixing the leak, Santos has made the decision not to repair the tank.' Even the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority doesn't want to protect the environment or the health of the community. They, too, want Santos to make good coin, it seems.

So, Minister, let's just get it clear, on the Hansard, that the federal government is going to let the Barossa project pump its dirty gas into a leaking tank. The people of Darwin will appreciate the clarification—although I doubt they'll appreciate the exposure to dangerous chemicals or having to pay for the clean-up of natural disasters that companies like Santos are causing with the help of this Albanese government.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I indicated to Senator Waters in response to her question earlier this week, this does largely seem to be a matter for the Northern Territory's EPA regulator. What we know about the situation in Darwin is that this tank is currently not in operation. It was subject to an engineering investigation in 2020 when approval was sought from Northern Territory WorkSafe to extend the life of the Darwin LNG facility. The appropriate regulatory approvals are in place. Importantly, it has an approved safety case. The methane emissions that you've referred to are reported under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme, and there is a monitoring program in place.

The licence to recommence operations of the tank is up for renewal on 18 September, and, as I've been advised, works are being done to refurbish the tank for future use. The DLNG plant is located onshore in the Northern Territory. As such, operation of the tank is a matter for the NT government. We will continue to urge Santos to work with the Northern Territory regulator to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the tank. NOPSEMA, the regulator that Minister King is in charge of, has no jurisdiction to regulate the DLNG facility. And, of course, what's important here—

I understand that the Greens political party comes to this with a set of preconceived views about gas altogether, but it's important, when you're exercising your authority as a minister, to do it with precision and in relation to the powers that you actually have. Otherwise, you end up in the territory that poor old Mr Morrison ended up in during the last government—pretending to be various ministers of state and not telling anybody. It's important to do it precisely and it's important to do it within your powers. That's what the minister has done here. That's consistent with the way that NOPSEMA has conducted its activity here. There are legislative frameworks in place to administer and regulate all of this work. On that basis, I move:

That the question be now put.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the question be put.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question now is that the suspension of standing orders is moved by Senator Waters be agreed to.