Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

I will go to the questions put by the member in a moment, but I first want to present the 2008-09 Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts portfolio and the Climate Change portfolio appropriations to the Main Committee of the House of Representatives. In doing that, I want to point out that the 2008 federal budget underpins the government’s comprehensive election commitments relating to climate change, to the management of water resources, to the protection of our unique environmental assets and to the setting of new directions for the arts. It is entirely appropriate that we should debate these bills on World Environment Day.

On climate change, recognised as one of the greatest social and economic challenges of our time, the government’s approach is built around three priorities: reducing our emissions, adapting to the impacts of climate change that we cannot avoid and helping to shape a global solution. Through this budget, the government has delivered $2.3 billion in funding for climate change. Central to this approach is the allocation of $37.3 million for the design and implementation of an emissions trading scheme.

The government is also fully committed to delivering to householders the ability to save money on household energy bills. We are committed to providing a one-stop green shop to link households, schools and small businesses with access to energy- and water-efficiency advice through a Green Loans program. The government additionally is committed to ensuring that there is protection for our unique environment.

Our biodiversity, landscapes and our special places are also under threat from long-established impacts of land clearing, urban development, pollution and unsustainable use of natural resources. Through Caring for Our Country the government will spend $2.2 billion over the next five years to deliver an environment that is better protected, better managed and more resilient in the face of climate change. Central to this is a $200 million Great Barrier Reef Rescue Plan and $100 million for a community Coast Care program as well as funding to expand Indigenous protected areas and the National Reserve System.

Water scarcity continues to be a major national challenge for Australia. We recognise that water shortages pose a serious threat to our economy and way of life, and the government is responding to the water crisis through the $12.9 billion Water for the Future plan. The budget includes $1.5 billion in new funding under Water for the Future to deliver on the election commitments; $1 billion for the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan, which will invest in major water infrastructure projects in larger cities and will support desalination, water recycling and stormwater harvesting projects; the $254.8 million National Water Security plan for cities and towns, that will invest in more efficient water infrastructure, including stormwater capture projects, water recycling and water treatment plants as well as refurbishing older pipes and water systems; and the $250 million National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative, providing rebates of up to $500 to households for rainwater tanks and greywater facilities. We have also brought forward significant levels of funding in 2008-09 under our $12.9 billion Water for the Future plan. This is a government that is delivering on its election promises and delivering on the desire of Australians to see robust national leadership in the areas of climate change, water and protecting our national environment.

In relation to the question put to me, I want to point out to the member that the decision I make on Traveston Dam will only be made after a full and thorough consideration of all the relevant information that emerges during the assessment process. As the member knows, the dam is being assessed under the EPBC Act 1999 as well as by the Queensland government under relevant state legislation. The Commonwealth has a bilateral agreement with the Queensland government, and the coordinator-general will prepare an assessment report for my consideration. In making my decision I will ensure that I have considered the Queensland government’s assessment report in accordance with my responsibilities under the EPBC Act and I will carefully consider the impacts of the dam on matters of national environmental significance as well as on relevant economic and social matters. And I will consider all other relevant information on the impacts of the proposal. That will include views that are brought forward by the community—such as the result of independent reviews, public submissions from the community which the member has mentioned, and the relevant recommendations of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee inquiry into additional water supplies for south-east Queensland.

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