Senator HILL (Minister for the Environment)(4.25 p.m.) —We did have these general discussions when we met previously before last night. In fact, I think we met for several hours. We seem to be re-running that debate, so I hope we will soon come back to the specific amendments. I regret that Senator Brown, consistent with his habit, deliberately misled the Senate in his interpretation of what I said. I did not say that we were cutting the Daintree rescue package or the mahogany glider package.

The Commonwealth is negotiating partnership agreements with the states through which the trust will operate. That is important because the states basically run most of these programs on the ground. The states are going to be responsible for a lot of the delivery. We want to ensure that the objectives that we are seeking through the trust are reflected in the commitment of the states. We are negotiating with the Tasmanian government. Some of the other states have also set up whole of government mechanisms for the purpose of that negotiation. My officials have been negotiating with the Tasmanian officials in relation to the program in Tasmania. Obviously the committee to which Senator Brown referred is assisted by specialists from a range of Tasmanian departments.

My advice is that those negotiations are going well, and what is being developed is a real quality program for Tasmania in terms of environmental outcome. That is good news. I am quite happy to take this opportunity to again confirm our commitment to $125 million of the trust fund being expended on the Tasmanian program.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN —Now that Senator Hill has answered those peripheral questions, I invite honourable senators to return back to the issue of Democrat amendment No. 2.

Senator Harradine —I think Senator Hill means that is 10 per cent, doesn't he?

Senator HILL —I hope $125 million off $1.25 billion is 10 per cent.