QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for the Environment and Water) (14:59): Thanks, Senator Walker. In delivering new homes, the Albanese government is getting the balance right by also ensuring that Australia's spectacular natural environment is protected. The approval for the development I mentioned in the electorate of Farrer earlier includes targeted conditions to protect listed threatened species.

The conditions include strict clearance limits and a management plan to create, enhance and protect habitat for the endangered Sloan's froglet and the critically endangered regent honeyeater. Senator McKenzie: It's a pity you're not running in Farrer! Senator WATT: The poor old Nats have already conceded defeat in the electorate of Farrer because they didn't deliver any new homes, unlike the Albanese government.

Our approach to speeding up environmental approvals stands in contrast to what we saw in the coalition's decade of housing roadblocks. At one point during the coalition's term of government, they provided no funding whatsoever for housing approvals in the environment department. Their neglect meant that not a single approval was made on time.

So dire was the situation when we came to government, there were nearly a hundred housing projects sitting unapproved by the coalition. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Walker, second supplementary?