Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Watt. Today is a landmark day for the environment in Australia. The Albanese Labor government's environmental law reforms are expected to pass the House of Representatives today. Can the minister outline how these reforms will protect the environment and why they're so important to achieve our climate goals?

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

Thank you, Senator Brown. Today is indeed a landmark day for the environment in Australia. It's another—

They don't like it. They don't like making progress on the environment, do they? How green is the Greens party when they don't even want to support progress on the environment? Today is another stop on the journey towards achieving meaningful reform for Australia's broken environmental laws. The Environment Protection Reform Bill is set to pass the House of Representatives today with the support of every Labor MP as well as some Independents, bringing real benefits to the environment, business and community one step closer.

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

Senator Hanson-Young, come to order!

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

The legislation includes stronger environmental protections, more efficient and robust project approvals and greater accountability and transparency in environmental decision-making. Unfortunately, it's back to the future with a rerun of Australia's worst reality TV show: the 'no-alition'. It's back for another season.

But, in this season—happening today in the House of Representatives—we see the Greens party team up with Barnaby Joyce and his other anti-renewable, climate-denying MPs in voting against these laws. We see the Greens political party vote against reforms that will deliver Australia's first National Environmental Protection Agency, new national environmental standards that projects must meet and higher penalties for those who illegally damage our environment. At the same time, we see the Liberal and National parties vote against reforms that will deliver faster assessments and approvals for major projects, up to $7 billion injected into the national economy and updated bilateral agreement frameworks for states and territories to fast-track assessments and approvals.

It's vital that these laws are passed so we can build the housing and renewables we need to reach net zero by 2050. Of course, this is a policy—net zero—that is about to be dropped by the Liberal Party at the behest of their junior coalition partner, who are less than one-sixth the size of them in the Senate. (Time expired)

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

Minister, if you are referring to people in the other place, I remind you to use their correct titles. Senator Brown, first supplementary?

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

These reforms are vital not only to protect our precious environment but also to ensure that we can accelerate investment in key national priorities like housing and renewable energy. Minister, can you outline the broad support for this bill and for climate action from across the community?

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

We are seeing support from a wide range of parties for these reforms. In the last few days we've seen support from the Housing Industry Association, the Ai Group and the Clean Energy Council—a group who like to deliver renewable energy, something the Greens party once upon a time supported, until they wanted to stop it because they want to stop everything. We've got the Clean Energy Council supporting more renewables and supporting these reforms, while the Greens party want to team up with Barnaby Joyce and say no. What a horrible thought!

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

Minister Watt, I did remind you to refer to others in that other place by their correct titles.

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

As I say, it is very, very disturbing to see the once proud Liberal Party being led by the nose by the National Party to drop net zero—probably to oppose these reforms as well. I did a quick count and reminded myself that in the Senate we have four National Party senators and we have 23 Liberal Party senators. In fact, you poached one of the Nationals in Senator Nampijinpa Price, and you're still being led by the National Party. There are as many Liberal senators called James and Andrew—

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

Thank you, Minister. The time for answering—

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

as there are National Party senators, and you are following them.

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

Minister, when I ask you to stop, you need to stop. Senator Brown, second supplementary?

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government is unified in its approach to investing in renewables to achieve net zero by 2050, which will ultimately protect our precious environment. How important is policy certainty around our energy market, particularly for business investment around the country?

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

It is vital for investment certainty in the energy transition that we have policy certainty when it comes to climate change, energy and our environmental law reform. That's what we're seeking support for with these reforms when we come back for the final sitting week of the year. As I was saying, when it comes to the Liberals, there are as many Jameses and Andrews in the Liberal Party room in the Senate as there are National Party senators. All you needed to do was to get one more. You could get an Anne, you could get a Dave, you could get a Maria and you'd have the numbers on the Nationals, but you are still letting this rump of four senators drag you by the nose into oblivion.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order, President. I would ask that you ask the minister, who is being most disrespectful, to refer to senators by their proper names.

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

Senator Henderson, get to the point of order.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister needs to refer to senators by their proper and correct names.

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

Thank you, Senator Henderson. You will note I have been asking the minister to do that, and I will remind him once again.

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

You could have a Sarah, or a Senator Henderson even, join you and have the numbers over the Nats, but you're still letting them lead you along. Now, it appears that the Liberal lapdogs are taking commands from the farmers in the National Party. We've got the National Party saying 'heel', and they heel. We've got them saying 'sit', and they sit.

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

Minister Watt, resume your seat.

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

And now they're rolling over just like a lapdog on net zero.

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

Minister Watt, resume your seat! Senator Ruston was on her feet. I was struggling to get Minister Watt to resume his seat.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would ask you to ask Minister Watt if he would consider withdrawing some of the offensive remarks he made about my party.

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

I withdraw.

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

On that basis, I ask that further questions be placed on notice.