Senator RUSTON (South Australia—Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) (17:28): I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator RUSTON: The government supports the safe and responsible development of Australia's offshore oil and gas resources. Australia's offshore regime has strong environmental, health and safety protections overseen by an independent expert regulator, in NOPSEMA, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority. Rather than unscientific bans, NOPSEMA relies on expert scientific evidence and will not allow any activity to proceed unless it is safe for the environment, the community and the workers.