Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Watt. Rushy Lagoon is Tasmania's largest farm and one of its most significant beef, dairy, sheep and cropping properties. The Albanese Labor government has approved the sale of Rushy Lagoon to foreign owners who intend to convert productive farmland into forest for carbon credits. The sale to foreign owners was made over the top of Australian bidders, who would have kept the property as farmland. The purchase was only viable because the Commonwealth owned Clean Energy Finance Corporation is providing $69 million in taxpayer money in the purchase on top of an $8.8 million grant. Minister, what business does your agency have in interfering in land purchases, encouraging foreign companies to turn Australia's productive farmland into carbon credits and putting our national food security at risk?

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

Thank you, Senator Hanson. Senator Hanson has directed the question to me, but the matter actually involves either the Treasurer, as the minister overseeing foreign investment decisions, or the climate change minister, who oversees ACCUs and those sorts of issues. So, Senator Hanson, you can take your pick as to who you'd like to direct that question to.

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

I'll ask Senator Hanson. Senator Hanson, did you wish to redirect that question to Senator Ayres?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand it does cover the Clean Energy Corporation plus also the Foreign Investment Review Board, so I suggest whoever is prepared to answer the question truthfully.

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

Senator Hanson, it's up to you where you direct your question. It's not up to me. The suggestion has been Minister Ayres. You'll need to inform me whether you want me to redirect the question or not.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, clarify the point. Under what portfolio is Senator Ayres going to answer this question?

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

Minister Watt is climate change and energy and Senator Ayres is climate change. The suggestion is that the question be redirected to Minister Ayres, but of course it is your prerogative to choose where your question goes. But you might be limited in your answer.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I possibly will be—but anyway. Minister Ayres.

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

Thank you, Senator Hanson. Minister Ayres.

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

I thank Senator Hanson for that question. Rushy Lagoon will remain a working property with agriculture continuing alongside new plantation forestry—an industry that this government supports—and environmental restoration. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania uses a land capability classification system to assess land for agricultural uses. Class 1 is the best. Class 7 is the poorest country. The state policy for protection of Agricultural Land seeks to protect prime agricultural land from conversion to non-agricultural uses. It achieves this by setting constraints as to how prime land can be used. The Tasmanian government classifies Rushy Lagoon's lands as generally class five and class six, and they are not considered prime agricultural land. But this is not a choice between farming and forestry. Both are important industries that this project will support.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Farmers—why don't they get a subsidy?

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

I've heard Senator Canavan's interjections. This facility, this farm, was owned by foreign owners.

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

Minister Ayres, please resume your seat.

Senator Canavan! This is Senator Hanson's question. She's entitled to hear the response in silence.

Senator Colbeck! The disrespect towards me from particular senators when I've called order this afternoon is disgraceful, and it needs to stop. Minister Ayres, please continue.

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

And, of course, there is some history to this. In July 2020, Mr Taylor, as the then responsible minister, pushed a map of five priority regional hubs for plantation forestry ACCUs. And guess what? Northern Tasmania, including this parcel of land, is in one of those regions selected by Mr Taylor. He said:

Reducing red tape for projects located in the five Regional Forestry Hubs will support regional jobs and investment, including in communities hard hit by last summer's bushfires.

That was the Liberal plan for Rushy Lagoon. (Time expired)

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

Senator Hanson, first supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, the Chair of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Steven Skala, is also a member of the Foreign Investment Review Board that approved the sale of Rushy Lagoon to a foreign owner. Was a conflict-of-interest declaration made and was this provided to you? Did Steven Skala recuse himself from the review board decision on Rushy Lagoon, and was this disclosed to you?

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

Well, of course it wasn't advised to me, Senator Hanson. I'm the minister responsible in this chamber for representing Minister Bowen. But what I'm advised is that the answer is yes.

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

Senator Hanson, second supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, given this sale was personally approved by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, is it your government's policy to replace productive farmland with carbon credit schemes, in the pursuit of net zero?

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

I'm not sure I fully understand that question, Senator Hanson. But what I can say is that the forestry side of the project will be staged over five years, with good forestry jobs supporting local contractors and workers during planting, as well as vital long-term forestry and processing jobs for Tasmanians in the state's north. There will be millions of dollars in new planting, fencing, irrigation, infrastructure and the rehabilitation of buildings and degraded land—around 190 jobs for Northern Tasmania delivered as a result of this project on land that, don't forget, is not prime agricultural land. It's classified by the Tasmanian government as level 5 and level 6. It's good for forestry. It's good for agriculture. It's good for Northern Tasmanian jobs. No wonder you lot all oppose this project.