QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: TAKE NOTE OF ANSWERS

Senator McKIM (Tasmania—Australian Greens Whip) (16:06): Labor's environment laws finally give us the chance to end the dinosaur industry that is native forest logging. This is a loss-making industry that only survives due to ongoing taxpayer subsidies. It's an industry that we know emits massive amounts of carbon.

It's an industry that destroys Aboriginal cultural heritage. It's an industry that slaughters millions of creatures every single year. It's an industry that destroys threatened species' habitat.

It destroys complex ecosystems that have evolved over millions of years. While the planet's climate is breaking down around us and biodiversity is collapsing, there is simply no excuse for continuing to destroy our precious native forests. We also know that Labor cannot meet even its woefully inadequate emissions reduction targets unless it ends native forest logging.

So, in the face of this reality, in the face of species like the beautiful little swift parrot being logged into extinction and in the face of climate science, is Labor going to seize this moment, this opportunity that lies with a progressive crossbench that will allow Labor to move to end native forest logging? Is Labor going to seize this opportunity? Do you know what?

Obviously, no, they are not. I've got a simple message today for the Labor Party. The Australian Greens have got a simple message today for the Labor Party.

Unless your environment laws ensure that our precious native forests are protected, they are not worth the paper they are printed on. Do not expect the Greens to rubberstamp your laws unless they contain measures that ensure our native forests are protected. It is time to end the ongoing destruction of native forests.

It is time, due to climate breakdown and ecological collapse, to get onto the right side of history. The time to end native forest logging right around Australia is right now. Question agreed to.