Senator FAULKNER (Leader of the Opposition in the Senate)(5.16 p.m.) —I must say that the contribution that we have just heard from Senator Bell in relation to jarosite and sea dumping was most unfair. Senator Bell would be well aware that jarosite is not dumped at the mouth of the Derwent. If he is not, he should be. He would also be well aware that during the life of the last government in the last parliament, as the environment minister I put a lot of effort and energy into ensuring that we saw a co-treatment process established by the relevant company, Pasminco, a process that I think is going to have some very significant long-term benefits for the environment in this country.

If you were being fair, Senator Bell, you would acknowledge the role that was played during the life of the last parliament in relation to ensuring that, in one of the very important and difficult environment issues that we have had to face, decisions have been made that bring about a very significant and long-term environmental benefit. So I open my remarks by rejecting those rather miserable comments by Senator Bell in relation to that issue.

I did ask Senator Hill whether my interpretation of his comments in response to Senator Bell's original contribution on this amendment indicated an intention on his part to support the second of the proposed Australian Democrat amendments. I accept Senator Bell's comment that clearly we await the fate of this one. That was my interpretation of your comments, Senator Hill. Could you respond to me on that?