QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for the Environment and Water) (14:46): Thanks, Senator Waters, for the question. As Senator Waters would be well aware, this project is currently subject to assessment under the federal EPBC Act, just as it is currently under assessment under Western Australian law. The project is right now being assessed by the Western Australian EPA and also by my department, soon to become the EPA on 1 July when, for the very first time in Australia's history, we will have a national EPA as a result of the Albanese Labor government's environmental reforms.

The project is in the final EPBC decision stage awaiting regulatory advice and information from NOPSEMA and additional information from the proponent. As a final decision has not been made on this project, it would not be appropriate to comment further. I am surprised that Senator Waters is asking me to express an opinion on the future of this project.

She does remind us from time to time that she is a former environmental lawyer, and, on that basis, it would be a strange decision for a minister of the day to express an opinion on a project that is currently under assessment. That is a sure-fire way to make sure that the decision that is ultimately made is challenged in the courts, and I have every intention of complying with Australian environmental law when I conduct this assessment and approval decision.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Waters, first supplementary?