NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon will join Greens Cunningham candidate Cath Blakey and Hughes candidate Phil Smith to launch the ‘Protecting our precious environment' campaign.

The campaign calls for improved environmental protections for the Royal National Park and Coastal Upland Hanging Swamps.

The state-wide campaign and release of a 30 page comprehensive report on NSW's diverse natural environments and the dangers they face is supported by former Greens parliamentary leader Bob Brown.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (16:22): I move:

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (20:41): This bill, known by many as the 'dead koala power bill', should not pass. What the government calls the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill is shameful. This is a saga that highlights how far the Abbot government will go to deliver for its corporate constituency. In this case, the Liberal-National corporate constituency is the fossil fuel industry and those companies that want to continue logging native forests.

Senator RHIANNON: Mr Varghese, in what countries in Africa is Australia represented by honorary consuls?

Mr Varghese : Could I take that on notice? I do not have that information with me, and I do not think there is anyone in the room who would have it.

Senator RHIANNON: If you do have honorary consuls, could you indicate what their occupations are in the countries that they represent and whether they have any links with mining companies.

Lee's opinion piece on political donations from mining companies was published today.

Last week, Federal Labor voted with the Liberals and Nationals to block a Senate motion calling for a ban on political donations from mining and coal seam gas companies.

Labor has voted with the Liberals and Nationals to block a Senate motion that detailed their failure to return all the political donations that they have received from the CSG company Santos and that calls for a ban on political donations from mining and coal seam gas companies.

“It is deeply disappointing that Labor has refused to back a ban on political donations from mining and coal seam gas companies,” said Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (11:23): I move:

That the Senate-

(a) notes that:

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (17:25): The contributions that we have heard from the two previous senators, representing Labor and the coalition, show how enormously out of touch they are with what is happening in Australia today. There is an enormous shift in public understanding and public opinion about how we should look after our farming land, how we should protect our environment, how we should deliver our energy and where we can create jobs.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (20:02): The New South Wales Liberal and National parties line up with the Abbott government as environmental vandals. Premier Mike Baird and the coalition government are creating a legacy of environmental destruction and climate change inaction. New South Wales suffered under the previous state Labor government when it came to prioritising developers over local communities, which was one of their favourite activities. The coalition, however, are no better and in some areas worse.

CHAIR: We will now move on to the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation.

Senator RHIANNON: Mr Hunter, in your letter to the Canberra Times on the ninth of this month you stated:

EFIC's independent directors have additional directorships within the finance community.
I am actually really tight for time; the chair is on my tail. So, if that is not a short answer, can you take this on notice? Can you state what those additional directorships are for your independent directors?