QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for the Environment and Water) (15:01): I understand why the Nationals get a bit toey when we talk about electorates like Farrer. It's because their new position in Australian politics is to be a preference distributor to either the Liberal Party or One Nation. That's how irrelevant the National Party has become.

Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Watt does not need the yelling that's going on. You are to listen in silence.

Senator WATT: Thank you for your protection, President. The housing approvals process is only going to get faster from here under the Albanese government, as well as simpler and more reliable, with the rollout of our landmark national environmental laws well underway. We'll see faster approvals via a new, streamlined approvals pathway, better and more enduring bilateral agreements between federal and state governments, and improved strategic assessments and bioregional planning.

What a far cry from the situation we inherited from the coalition when we came to office. There were nearly 100 housing projects sitting unapproved and not a single dollar provided to the environment department for environmental approvals for housing. Since then, we have approved 79 housing projects totalling 62,000 homes, and there are more to come under the Albanese Labor government.

Senator Wong: I ask that further questions be placed on notice.