QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:33): Thank you, I am familiar with the Premier's position, and in fact, as I walked here to question time, I think he was doing a press conference in the courtyard there. Obviously the Prime Minister engages with Premier Cook and the government of Western Australia regularly and has engaged, including going to WA on many occasions.

I understand the proposition that is being put. I would make this point: the innovative business CGT concession that is flagged and scoped in the consultation paper that I was discussing with Senator Hume and Senator Cash is subject to innovation criteria. The government is supporting exploration and mining in other ways, including through billions of dollars invested across special investment vehicles in Australian resources firms and project.

Of course, you mentioned critical minerals. There is also an investment of $5 billion in the Critical Minerals Facility to grow critical minerals mines and processing, and there is the critical minerals production tax incentive, which is a 10 per cent tax offset. The PRESIDENT: Senator McDonald, on a point of order?

Senator McDonald: My issue is with relevance—specifically, does the government agree with the Western Australian premier? The PRESIDENT: The minister is being relevant. Senator WONG: I went directly to the issue you were raising.

I was trying to do you the courtesy, Senator, of responding directly, and I'll do it again. The concession is broadly available. It's not limited to a particular sector, but it is subject to innovation criteria.

You asked about tax concessions for the sector, and I was outlining the ways in which taxpayers and this government have supported, particularly, critical minerals and, more broadly, resources firms and projects. The PRESIDENT: Senator McDonald, first supplementary?