Traveston Crossing Dam Motion

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Senator IAN MACDONALD (Queensland) (10:14 AM) —I ask that general business notice of motion No. 411 standing in my name for today, relating to the Traveston Crossing Dam and the Greens preferences in the Queensland election, be taken as a formal motion.

The PRESIDENT —Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal?

Senator Bob Brown —Mr President, I would seek your advice about the process. We agree to formality after dealing with the amendments.

The PRESIDENT —I understand, Senator Brown, that you will seek leave to move an amendment and that will be followed by Senator Macdonald seeking leave to move an amendment to your amendment. Upon leave being granted in both instances, I will put Senator Macdonald’s amendment to your amendment, then I will put your amendment, as amended—if it is amended. If it is not amended, I then put your amendment as it stands and then I put the motion, as amended, to the chamber.

Senator Bob Brown —Just for clarity’s sake, I will seek formality for the amendment that—

The PRESIDENT —No, Senator Brown, you need to seek leave to move an amendment to the motion once it is formal. Is there any objection to the motion being taken as formal? There is no objection.

Senator IAN MACDONALD —I move this motion about this very important matter for Queensland:

That the Senate notes:

(a) that the Greens political party in Queensland has allocated preferences to the Bligh Labor Government in 12 marginal seats thus heightening the chances of the Labor Government being returned to office in Queensland at the election on Saturday, 21 March 2009;

(b)  the Greens political party both in Queensland and federally claim to oppose the construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam on the Mary River in Queensland;

(c) that the Liberal National Party in Queensland has consistently and firmly opposed the construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam;

(d) that the Bligh Labor Government has refused to rule out construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam and has indicated it would make an application to the Federal Government for Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act approval to construct the Traveston Crossing Dam after Saturday’s election in Queensland; and

(e) the contradictory approaches of the Greens political party to construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam.

Senator IAN MACDONALD (Queensland) (10:18 AM) —by leave—I move:

At the end of the motion, add “and that the Senate also notes that the Liberal National Party in Queensland is not recommending preferences”.

I thought it would be helpful if I read the amendment as it would be if the proposed amendment to the amendment were carried—just for clarity: ‘That, logically, the Queensland Liberal National Party, in concern for the Mary River, ought to prefer the Greens over the Australian Labor Party in assessing preference directions.’ And I would add the words ‘but that the Senate also notes that the Liberal National Party in Queensland is not recommending preferences’.

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