QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:36): Senator, my recollection is that that is a decision under the law and a decision which is appropriately a decision of Minister Plibersek as the responsible minister, who has certain statutory powers. I think I and others have responded to that. I'm advised, in fact, that the company has commenced legal proceedings in the Federal Court, so obviously I'm not in a position to comment any further.

I would say we have been very clear about our support for the mining industry, which employs many hundreds of thousands of Australians, and the minister has approved some 40 mining projects and has doubled the rate of on-time approvals since coming to government.