QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WATERS (Queensland—Leader of the Australian Greens) (14:17): My question is to the minister for the environment—allegedly—Senator Watt. The PRESIDENT: Senator Waters, I'm going to ask you to withdraw that. Senator WATERS: I withdraw.

The Climate Council has said: The Government's proposed reforms have a number of gaping problems: they fail to address climate pollution—the biggest threat to the environment; they will undermine our climate progress by denying the government power to limit climate pollution from massive fossil fuel projects; and they may speed up fossil fuel project approvals despite the harm they cause.

Minister, you've had multiple opportunities; why won't you rule out fast-tracking coal and gas under these new laws?