25th Jul 2019, 3:19 PM – Representatives Motions — Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction - Let a vote happen

The majority voted against suspending the usual procedural orders so that Watson MP Tony Burke (Labor) could move a motion (see below). In parliamentary jargon, they voted to suspend the standing orders.

Motion text

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Watson from moving the following motion immediately—That the House calls on the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction to immediately make a statement to the House for a period not exceeding 20 minutes explaining:

(1) why he met with Department of the Environment and Energy officials and the office of the then Minister for the Environment and Energy, and now Treasurer, in March 2017 to discuss the listing of a critically endangered grasslands while the department was investigating the alleged poisoning of the same grasslands on land he part-owned;

(2) why, and how, an officer from the compliance unit of the department responsible for the investigation was present at the March 2017 meeting;

(3) why, following the meeting, the office of the then Minister for Environment and Energy asked for advice on whether he could vary the relevant listing without the advice of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee, whether he could act against the Committee's advice and whether he could keep the reasons for the variation secret;

(4) why, despite stating that his interest in Jam Land Pty Ltd was declared in accordance with the rules, he has failed to list his indirect interest in Jam Land Pty Ltd on his Member's Statement of Registrable Interests;

(5) what declarations, if any, the Minister has made to the Department of the Environment and Energy, the office of the then Minister for the Environment and Energy and the Prime Minister about his interest in the land subject to a compliance investigation by the Department of the Environment and Energy; and

(6) how his conduct is consistent with the Statement of Ministerial Standards.