STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTSDepartment of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Estimates Hearings 19.02.08 Senator MILNE—To follow on from that, Minister Garrett, when he was the shadow minister and at the beginning of the election campaign, indicated in relation to the emissions from the proposed Gunns pulp mill that 500,000 tonnes was the Labor Party’s policy on it. He indicated that we would have a greenhouse gas trigger and that 500,000 tonnes was the trigger. In spite of the fact that the mill would emit more than that, he said it would not be applied retrospectively. Can I clarify, further to Senator Allison’s questions, what policy the Labor Party did take to the election in view of that statement in terms of the greenhouse gas trigger? I understand what you are saying now about a review of it, but what was the policy position you actually took to the election? Senator IAN MACDONALD—Mr Garrett’s views all changed after the election, anyhow. Senator Wong—You would know all about that, wouldn’t you, Senator MacDonald? Shall we ask Dr Hewson about that? Senator MILNE—I am just interested because that was what was put: 500,000 would trigger it. Senator Wong—Before we go to this, is it intended that we are going to do primarily EPBC Act related issues? The officers at the table are not EPBC Act officers, so we are happy to shift if the committee would prefer that. If senators are going to stay on this area, we will probably send Mr Oxley and Mr Carter back. Senator MILNE—I want to ask about a whole lot of these climate programs. I want to know what the Labor Party’s policy was, coming into the election, on the size of the greenhouse gas trigger, notwithstanding it is under review. Senator Wong—I do not understand Mr Borthwick to be saying that it is under review. Mr Borthwick—No. Senator MILNE—From my understanding of the 500,000 tonnes, having a trigger is not under review but the size of the trigger is. Mr Borthwick—I do not know what the current minister mentioned when he was in opposition as to the size of the trigger. Senator MILNE—Then I am asking the minister: what was the Labor Party’s policy position, which they took to the 2007 election, on the size of the greenhouse gas trigger? If you do not know, please take it on notice, because it is important—given the commitment to keep all election promises—that it is on the record. Senator Wong—As I said, we have an election commitment to a greenhouse trigger in the EPBC Act, and that is within Minister Garrett’s portfolio. I will take on notice whether there was any specific amendment as to the detail of that.