Senator WHISH-WILSON ( Tasmania ) ( 16:24 ): I haven't said anything, Mr President. I just want to put that on the record. I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 985, relating to seismic testing, before asking that it be taken as a formal motion. Leave granted. Senator WHISH-WILSON: I amend the motion in the terms circulated in the chamber. I ask that it be taken as formal. The PRESIDENT: Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal? An honourable senator: Yes. The PRESIDENT: There is. We'll move to notice of motion No. 989. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! I can play my recording from the last time I had this discussion. We've done it before. Senator Whish-Wilson, are you seeking leave to make a short statement? Senator WHISH-WILSON: I am. The PRESIDENT: Is leave granted for Senator Whish-Wilson to make a short statement? There being no objection, you can make a statement. Senator WHISH-WILSON: Thank you, Mr President. I want to ask if I could move that again and the Labor Party reconsider. The PRESIDENT: You have asserted that someone objected. I need to make sure the Hansard does not necessarily reflect something that didn't occur. I heard an objection. I'm not going to say from whom, unless someone wants to claim ownership of it. I think that's the way it should be reflected in the Hansard. I will give you the opportunity again. Is there any objection to notice of motion No. 985 as amended being taken as formal? There being none, you may move the motion. Senator WHISH-WILSON: I move the motion as amended: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) all sides of politics have expressed concerns about extending Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 and oil and gas drilling off the coasts of Sydney and Newcastle, and (ii) ConocoPhillips Australia wants to look for gas reserves in the Otway Basin in an operational area of 4,089 square kilometres only 23.5 kilometres off the west coast of Tasmania's King Island, from 1 August; (b) acknowledges the: (i) knowledge gap surrounding the impacts of seismic testing on local communities and local industries which depend on healthy oceans and coastline, and (ii) importance of the rock lobster industry to Tasmania and the King Island community and that any negative impact on the industry would impact on the community itself; (c) further notes Liberal MP for Braddon Mr Gavin Pearce's statements, that the concern felt by the King Island community is genuine, and that: (i) ConocoPhillips must address these fears with evidence-based answers, and (ii) if ConocoPhillips cannot prove there will be no impact on local fishing livelihoods then the seismic testing should not go ahead; and (d) calls on NOPSEMA to apply the precautionary principle when independently assessing the impacts of seismic testing and processing permit applications.