Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Minister Watt. Minister, on Tuesday we woke up to distressing images of a humpback whale, a species protected under federal and state laws, killed in a shark net off the coast of New South Wales. Whales, dolphins, rays, turtles, dugongs and endangered shark species are getting entangled almost daily in New South Wales and Queensland by these indiscriminate nets of death. While the shark net was killing that whale in New South Wales, dozens of bull sharks were feeding in the shallows at Snapper Rocks in Queensland inside the shark nets and drum lines. This irony proves again that shark nets are not a safety barrier. Minister, have you seen these awful images, and what have you got to say to Australians and indeed many around the world who are distressed and angry at this state-sanctioned animal cruelty?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Faruqi. I welcome a question from the Greens political party about the need for environmental law reform. My one suggestion for you is join with the government and pass environmental law reforms.

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

Senator Faruqi, a first supplementary?

Order! Senator McKim. I remind the chamber that this motion was agreed by the chamber yesterday. I am not entertaining interjections. I have called Senator Faruqi. I expect her to be able to give her question without interjections.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. That was just another example of what a farce this question time has become. Minister, we want you to answer the questions.

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

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

Senator Faruqi, please resume your seat. Order across the chamber! Particularly on my right! I had just finished saying that Senator Faruqi has the right to be heard in silence.

Order! Senator McKenzie, I have had to call you to order for the first 10 lot of questions. I would like some silence, particularly from you, but particularly from my right. Senator Faruqi, please continue.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. Perhaps for once you can try and answer the question. Minister, New South Wales and Queensland shark cull programs are enabled by a federal exemption. Will you today commit to ending this 86-year-old failed policy that doesn't keep our oceans safe for humans or for precious marine life?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, I find it rather ironic that you are complaining about question time given you supported the coalition as part of the 'no-alition' to make sure that question time continues to be happening. It is your choice that we're here. As I say, we have today introduced a bill to the House of Representatives to reform Australia's environmental law, and I invite you to work with the government to get it passed.

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

Senator Faruqi, a second supplementary?

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, at the most recent estimates, the Greens discovered that the Queensland government is in discussions with the federal environment department about expanding its shark cull program. This of course requires federal approval. Will you at least today rule out allowing this to happen? Will you do your job as the environment minister and protect whales and marine life? Because you are a failure at your job.

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

Senator Faruqi, withdraw.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I always appreciate a bit of free character assessment from the Greens political party, who of course spent three years opposing environmental law reform and housing reform and lost almost every seat they held in the House of Representatives. So continue that approach, and we will get the last one you've got and then we will take some Senate spots as well.