Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (17:04): The world is turning its back on coal. So many communities and so many countries are recognising that renewables are the way of the future, that they are commercially and industrially viable, and they are putting them in place. But in Australia, because of weak planning laws at a state level and weak environment laws at a federal level, it is so hard for communities to be heard.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (15:40): I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Gardens of Stone in New South Wales and adjacent Ben Bullen, Newnes and Wolgan State Forests are spectacular landscapes that are habitats for many plants and wildlife, including national and state-listed threatened species,

(ii) in October 2014 the New South Wales Planning Assessment Commission found that the pagoda landforms in that area should be afforded special significance status and the highest possible level of protection, and

The Greens have rejected NSW Environment Minister Rob Stokes' comments on the tentative listing of Royal National Park and are calling on the NSW State and Federal Government to ensure the 2015 deadline is not missed.

Australian Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon said: "Environment Minister Stokes is misleading in saying that additions could be made to the tentative list ‘at any time'.

"If we miss the midnight 31 January 2015 deadline, the next chance Royal can be considered for tentative listing is 2016.

25 November 2014

The Liberal/National government has made a mockery of the Senate Inquiry into the National Water Commission (Abolition) Bill says Greens water spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon.

"The Coalition government is following their track record of riding roughshod over democracy in an attempt to have their legislation passed," said Senator Rhiannon.

"The government's report, released today, ignores the vast majority of submissions to the inquiry which supported the retention of the National Water Commission.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (15:44): by leave—I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Sunswift University of New South Wales Solar Racing Team was recently confirmed by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile to have broken the world speed record for electric vehicles, averaging more than 100 km/hr over 500 km on a single battery charge,

National Water Commission

[16:56]

CHAIR: Welcome. Would you like to make a short statement?

Ms Olsson : No, thank you.

CHAIR: Then we will go straight to questions.

Senator RHIANNON: Has the National Water Commission been consulted in relation to any of the government's initiatives to build dams and other water infrastructure projects in Australia?

Ms Olsson : Not over this recent period, no.

Senator RHIANNON: When you say 'recent period'-

Ms Olsson : I mean not under this government.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (12:17): I endorse the comments of my colleague, Senator Waters, our spokesperson on environment and mining matters. She set out a very clear case when we come to this Omnibus Repeal Day (Autumn 2014) Bill 2014 that there are some aspects that definitely should not be repealed.

Greens Senator and water spokesperson Lee Rhiannon will be in Gloucester today to support community protests over AGL's plan to frack for coal seam gas in the region.

"This is a high risk project which should never have been approved," said Senator Rhiannon.

"AGL is putting the communities' health and water at risk all for the sake of increasing exports. This is not a fair deal, especially for the people who have to live next to the wells.

The Senate passes Lee's motion honouring the work of park rangers around the world and extending their sympathies to Glen Turner, a park ranger killed recently in northern New South Wales.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (15:38): I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that: