Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Senate Estimates hearing,

Searchable transcript of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, 09 Feb 2026 Senate Estimates hearing, with chapters: Departmental Administration and Ministerial Expenses, Travel Expenditure and COP31 Preparations, Workplace Relations and COP30 Costs, Algal Bloom Response…

Chapters

  1. Departmental Administration and Ministerial Expenses (0:00)

    The committee examines departmental record-keeping practices and questions a $60,000 mobile phone bill incurred by the Minister.

  2. Travel Expenditure and COP31 Preparations (24:25)

    Officials provide a breakdown of domestic and international travel costs while discussing organizational restructuring for COP31.

  3. Workplace Relations and COP30 Costs (43:50)

    The inquiry focuses on public holiday swap policies and the detailed setup and travel costs for the Australian pavilion at COP30.

  4. Algal Bloom Response and Research (1:45:45)

    Discussion centers on the federal response to the South Australian algal bloom, including research funding for CSIRO and AquaWatch.

  5. EPBC Act Reforms and Bilateral Agreements (2:14:46)

    The committee reviews the progress of national environmental standards and the status of bilateral assessment agreements with states.

  6. Housing Approvals and Native Species Programs (3:08:36)

    Officials report on housing project approval targets and the effectiveness of the Saving Native Species and Saving Koalas funds.

  7. Forestry Agreements and Invasive Species (3:32:47)

    The session covers the accreditation of Regional Forest Agreements and the lack of coordinated national funding for rabbit biocontrol.

  8. Land Clearing Compliance and Hotline (4:46:59)

    The department details its farmer engagement strategy, including a land clearing hotline and updated mapping tools for compliance.

  9. Gas Industry Consultation and EPBC Deals (5:11:11)

    A heated exchange occurs regarding gas industry exclusions from streamlined pathways and political negotiations over EPBC reforms.

  10. Wildlife Rescue and Great Barrier Reef (5:46:38)

    The committee examines federal funding for wildlife rescue and inaccuracies in water quality modeling for the Great Barrier Reef.

  11. Cultural Heritage and Urban Development (6:51:13)

    Discussion focuses on cultural heritage law reviews and the controversial Walker Tower development in Adelaide.

  12. Circular Economy and Recycling Stewardship (7:32:52)

    Officials provide updates on packaging reform, solar panel recycling pilots, and the status of the global plastics treaty.

  13. Bureau of Meteorology and IT Procurement (7:59:01)

    The Bureau of Meteorology defends its website redesign and provides a breakdown of IT contracts and labor hire costs.

  14. Water Infrastructure and Antarctic Research (9:36:00)

    The hearing concludes with an examination of dam projects, Murray-Darling Basin water buybacks, and Antarctic shipping logistics.