Mr CHANDLER-MATHER (Griffith) (15:56): The science is absolutely clear on climate change and I think members of the Labor Party know it. I think you probably do know that the International Energy Agency is right when it says that, if we want to avoid catastrophic climate change, then we cannot open a single new coal and gas project. I think you genuinely know that, but you don't care. That does seem to be the conclusion that any reasonable person should reach. The consequences have caused heatwaves, bushfires, floods, deaths, the destruction of our ecosystem, our dying planet—you do not care. That is the only reason that I can come up with to justify why you can look at the science, understand what you are doing and do it anyway. I would argue it is criminal behaviour by the government to approve coal and gas mines when you know the impact it's having on the earth. You keep doing it. You know the deaths it's going to cause and you know the destruction that it's going to cause, and you do it anyway. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): Member for Griffith, I'm taking a point of order. Mr CHANDLER-MATHER: The question is why does the Labor government— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Griffith! I'm taking a point of order. Please. Mr Rob Mitchell: Perhaps it might be nice if the new member, who doesn't read the standing orders, refers his remarks through the chair and actually does his job properly, instead of carrying on. You should direct your remarks through the chair. When you say 'you', you're reflecting on— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for McEwen, I'll explain. The standing order requires you to direct your remarks to me, to depersonalise the level of debate, which is escalating somewhat. Mr CHANDLER-MATHER: Indeed. Thanks, Deputy Speaker, and of course it's escalating. It's interesting to me that the members opposite—the government over there—care more about that sort of decorum than the death and destruction their policies are causing. The question is why the Labor government is acting in a way that financially benefits oil and gas corporations. We have the coalition over here saying I know where I live—let's sum this up. We've got both sides of parliament who act in the interests of fossil fuel corporations regardless of the consequences. It's not a surprise that the coalition appointed Grant King, previous executive of Origin, a massive gas corporation, as the head of the Climate Change Authority and that the Labor Party government keeps him there. Woodside, of course, is one of the large gas corporations that are benefiting from government policy. We have a strong history of that, and we'll speak about the coalition for a second, lest we forget that it was the Howard government that used ASIS to spy on the Timor-Leste government when they were negotiating with the Labor government, ultimately to the benefit of Woodside. Alexander Downer, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, went on to work for Woodside after using the Australian security apparatus to spy on behalf of Woodside, essentially, and to financially benefit them. Then Alexander Downer went to work for them. We also have the Labor Party. I thought I would quote, by the way, to give you an idea of why your party is so deeply corrupted and broken and utterly incapable of tackling climate change. It's a quote from— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Griffith, please take your seat. Mr Rob Mitchell: Show some respect in the House, you fool. That comment was deeply offensive, and he should withdraw. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Excuse me. It is offensive, but I don't want you calling names across the chamber either. Withdraw that, and then I'll deal— Mr Rob Mitchell: I withdraw that. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Griffith, you are casting aspersions on members in this House. I would tread a little bit more carefully if I were you. Mr CHANDLER-MATHER: I will quote directly from Lindy Edwards's Corporate Power in Australia book— Ms Scrymgour: A point of order. I think that the member should withdraw— Mr CHANDLER-MATHER: Absolutely not. Ms Scrymgour: his comments about criminal behaviour and death in terms of members on this side of the House. He should be made to withdraw. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member has been asked to withdraw. Mr CHANDLER-MATHER: Sorry, Deputy Speaker; I won't withdraw. I'm happy to provide the evidence as to why I think those comments stand. The DEP UTY SPEAKER: Minister, I give you the call. Ms Madeleine King: Deputy Speaker, you will note the member is disrespecting your orders and defying the House, so I ask that you bring him back to order. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Indeed. It is quite a serious matter. I am asking you to give it a little bit of thought, Member for Griffith. It would assist the House if you would withdraw. Mr CHANDLER-MATHER: Deputy Speaker, I won't withdraw. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Then you need to sit down.