Monique Ryan (Kooyong, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water. Yesterday you blocked a new coalmine in Queensland because of its adverse environmental effects on the Great Barrier Reef. This was an excellent application of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Will you also rejected the Middle Arm development because of its inevitable, irreversible and unacceptable environmental impact on the Darwin harbour?

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for her question. I did, yesterday, announce that I would not allow the Central Queensland coal project to proceed. I made that decision because the risk to the Great Barrier Reef, to freshwater creeks and to groundwater beside the proposed mine was simply too great. The Great Barrier Reef is responsible for about $6 billion worth of economic activity every year and about 64,000 jobs. Given the science before me, it became apparent that the risks were simply too great.

The honourable member referred to another project. I will make each decision that comes before me on a case-by-case basis, according to the law and according to the science that is available.