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ParliamentHouse Question Time, 2 September, 2020,

Answering a series ofquestions on PEP 11.

Senator BIRMINGHAM(South Australia—Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate):

“I would make the point that we have well-established approvals processes in relation to oil and gas exploration where that is offshore, working through NOPSEMA, an agency that has had its expertise and credibility demonstrated time and again, most recently by work that Australia's chief scientist did following the last election to review NOPSEMA in terms of the approvals processes to ensure that the way they assess environmental risks and other factors occurs in a most thorough manner. “

“I can say that what our government will do is not listen to a few interests, on any side of any one debate, but we will apply the law fully, thoroughly and rigorously, as it's intended to be.”

“We will let our independent agencies, who operate under laws passed through this parliament, undertake the assessments of any applications for permits, changes in permitsor otherwise, without any political interference but on the basis of the merits of those cases, including of course the thorough and proper environmental consideration that will be given to any such applications or requests.”

“I suspect that Senator Whish-Wilson exaggerates somewhat what he describes as those who are 'up in arms'. I again restate, as I did in answering the primary question and the first supplementary question, that when it comes to any applications forseismic testing, offshore drilling or any such activities they go through a very thorough assessment process.

“That assessment process is designed to ensure that the scientific evidence is heeded, that safeguards are met and, indeed, that it involves opportunities for communities,stakeholders, or others to have their say as part of that assessment process and to present evidence to those assessments.

“That's precisely what will occur in the case of any of the types of hypothetical circumstances that Senator Whish-Wilson raises. It will be done properly in a way that balances those interests and assesses the evidence but also still provides an opportunity for job creation to occur in Australia where projects meet the appropriate safeguards.”