Senator SIEWERT:  I, and also on behalf of Senator Ludlam, move:
That the Senate— 
   (a)   notes: 
      (i)   sightings of one adult and three baby bilbies at the site of the proposed James Price Point gas hub, Western Australia, in the week beginning 7 August 2011, 
      (ii)   that the pristine Kimberley bushland is prime habitat for the bilby, acknowledged as a vulnerable species by both the Western Australian Government and the Federal Government, 

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (14:17):  My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. I ask about the recent sightings of one adult and three baby bilbies at the site of the proposed James Price Point gas hub, which is prime habitat for the bilby. Bilbies are acknowledged as a vulnerable species by both the WA and federal governments, yet Woodside has begun clearing on this site.

 Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (15:52):  I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Senator Conroy) to a question without notice asked by me today relating to bilbies. 
 

The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to end Woodside’s uncontrolled land clearing at James Price Point over concerns the action is threatening endangered species.

In today’s question time, Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on the Kimberley called the Government to account over new evidence showing the presence of endangered bilbies in the area.

“The Government’s response, that a compliance assessment would be undertaken at the site, is wholly underwhelming,” said Senator Siewert.

The Australian Greens have vowed to continue fighting for Aboriginal communities after an Amnesty International report condemned the Federal Government’s abandonment of remote communities in the NT in favour of ‘growth towns’. 

The Amnesty report comes just one day after another highly critical report revealed the expensive gap between policy intent and implementation.

The Australian Greens have called on the Government to further investigate what impact the James Price Point gas hub will have on Kimberley marine life, as dead dugongs continue to wash up on Gladstone Harbour in Queensland, near a LNG facility under construction in the area.

Aggressive land clearing by Woodside is continuing to endanger important Aboriginal heritage at James Price Point, as desperate locals wait for the Environment Minister to make a decision on a Section 9 emergency application made last week.

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (14:47): My question is to Senator Conroy representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. It is in regard to a decision by Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett to forcibly remove locals from a road blockade at James Price Point in the Kimberley, which has led to the arrest of at least a dozen people, including elderly women, local small business people, traditional owners, custodians and their supporters.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (16:04):  I, and also on behalf of Senator Ludlam, move:
That the Senate—

Senator SIEWERT & Senator LUDLAM: To move:
That the Senate—

(a) condemns the heavy handed tactics of the Western Australian Government which has instructed Western Australian police to forcibly remove locals from the road blockade at James Price Point, arresting elderly women, traditional owners and custodians;

(b) acknowledges the concern in the Broome community about the regional impact of the Browse development at James Price Point; and