Murray Watt

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Marion, I actually spoke to, uh, the Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt about this last week and implored him to reconsider the decision.

He did say that they're gonna watch the impact, but that's not really good enough, is it? I mean, like, we can't-

No

The Coalition has called on the federal government to direct the department to reverse the charge.

Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has told Channel Seven the ATO is independent, and it is important that they engage with small business about the ban.

Victoria Police has ordered officers to apply leniency to child offenders as the state addresses a wave of youth crime.

[gentle music] A vacation rental should come with support, not surprises.

Clare O'Neil, the Housing Minister, yesterday joined Small Business Minister Ann Ahli, saying that n- there needs to be more consultation with business.

But poor old Cabinet Ministers Penny Wong and Murray Watt this morning on Breakfast TV were out there defending, uh, the existing policy, saying, "The tax office is independent.

They can't do anything about it.

That's their business.

Clare O'Neil, the Housing Minister, yesterday joined Small Business Minister Anne Aly, saying that there needs to be more consultation with business.

But poor old Cabinet Ministers Penny Wong and Murray Watt this morning on Breakfast TV were out there defending, uh, the existing policy, saying, "The tax office is independent.

They can't do anything about it.

That's their business.

Earlier this year, with a bid to launch an inquiry into the Commonwealth environmental water holder failing to gain support.

And last week, Federal Water Minister Murray Watt you heard that on this program, saying further water buybacks could not be ruled out.

So Shadow Water Minister Michael McCormick and National Party Leader Matt Canavan said if basin farmers don't have water, they can't grow food, and that's why their party will try and prevent more water buybacks.

This morning, importantly, we are announcing that we are going to be introducing a bill into the Federal Parliament to stop the buybacks.

And the federal government i- is still dancing around it.

Environment Minister Murray Watt basically said yesterday that it wasn't his problem because it doesn't relate to federal law.

Uh, now this seems to be a novel decision from the High Court, and it will take a little bit of time to understand its implications.

Obviously, the New South Wales Government will consider how they respond to this, um, but there's no change that's required to the federal environmental law because our laws don't require these kind of conside- considerations at the moment anyway.

But you're the energy minister, a- and so you are allowed, i- in fact, you should be able to tell us your thoughts about this, because that is an issue that fundamentally affects energy and climate change.

It is right in your wheelhouse, Mr. Bowen.

And given that the Prime Minister has previously backed the expansion of the Mount Pleasant coal mine, why can't Murray Watt or Chris Bowen now say that the expansion should go ahead and that the precedent set by this case is alarming? Could it be that they actually think we should be held responsible for emissions on the other side of the world? The only problem with that, as I said last night, is that countries that need coal are not simply going to stop finding coal because mines in Australia won't dig it up.

They'll go and get the coal from somewhere else because they need cheap, reliable energy.

As the Government appears at odds over the unintended consequences of the surcharge ban, there are now warnings that local councils could be forced to also scrap credit card payments as the fees put pressure on their budgets.

Let's bring in Environment Minister Murray Watt and Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume.

Good morning.

Murray, why isn't the government on the same page on the impact of this surcharge ban?