QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for the Environment and Water) (14:19): Thank you, Senator, for the question. I wasn't really expecting a question from the Greens political party about the environment this week, certainly not one about whether the Greens political party deliver on things for the environment, because only a week ago we saw the Greens completely incapable of deciding whether they support native forests or not.

Senator Hodgins-May: On a point of order on relevance, I don't need a preamble; I want an answer. Stick to the question. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Hodgins-May.

I will listen carefully, but the minister is being relevant to your question. I'll continue to listen, and, if he is not relevant, I will draw him to the question. Minister Watt, could you address your response to me.

Senator WATT: Thank you, President. I am very proud of the record of this government when it comes to protecting the environment, including when it comes to matters of circular economy, recycling and waste, because it was this government that invested over $200 million in building over 70 new recycling facilities right across the country, including dozens of new plastic recycling facilities.

It wasn't the Greens political party who did that; it was the Australian Labor Party who did that, because it's only the Australian Labor Party that has ever taken serious action on these issues. I don't know whether Bob Brown is going to take up Senator Canavan's invitation to join the National Party, after Bob Brown was encouraging Greens senators to vote with the National Party only last week to stop protection of native forests.

The idea that members of the Greens political party would come in and try to lecture us about protecting the environment within days of getting in the way of the most significant step to protect native forests— Senator Shoebridge: We know you're embarrassed, buddy, but answer the question. Senator WATT: You want to talk about being embarrassed, Senator Shoebridge?

You want to talk about being embarrassed about failing to protect native forests? The PRESIDENT: Minister Watt, direct your answers to the chair, please. Senator WATT: We intend to build on our record regarding the circular economy and the packaging issues at this week's Environment Ministers' Meeting by taking a package of reforms to that meeting, seeking greater harmonisation of the rules and regulations that apply to packaging across states and territories.

I would expect that we would have support for that from the Greens political party, but perhaps they're too busy holding hands to work out what their position is on packaging at the moment as well. I'd certainly expect to see support for that from the Liberal Party, given they claim to support regulatory reform. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Hodgins-May, first supplementary?