Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

they made it very clear that they looked at the corporate information, the financial report, compliance with applicable laws, litigation, property searches and ASIC checks of the foundation directors, and they engaged the Australian Government Solicitor.

We've got to go back to the reason the Labor Party are raising this issue at this time. It's because when they were in office they put the reef on the path to the endangered list. And I want to read from a 2012 statement from the World Heritage Committee:

… in the absence of substantial progress, the possible inscription of the property on the List of the World Heritage in Danger …

We know that the Labor Party had five capital dredge disposal projects planned for the marine park, and we know about the good work of my predecessor, who actually banned those dredge disposal projects and the ones going forward. Through the good work of my predecessor, we put in place a $2 billion Reef 2050 Plan with the Queensland government. We know that this half a billion dollars has been welcomed, including by the Queensland Premier and the Queensland Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, who in a joint statement with me on 20 July said about the $500 million:

The actions—

with the work we're doing with the $2 billion Reef 2050 long-term sustainability plan—

will be bolstered by the recent investment of an additional $500 million in the Great Barrier Reef by the Australian government …

So there we have it: a Labor Queensland Premier saying that this $500 million will bolster our efforts.

We have the member for Grayndler saying that it's a reputable organisation, we have the member for Sydney welcoming the announcement that was made, and we have the member for Watson giving money to the same foundation when they were in office. Talk about hypocrisy: thy name is the Labor Party. (Time expired)

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