Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I want to return to the point I made previously. I understand that, in the explanatory memorandum, in relation to retention leases mention is made of marine protected areas and the power of the joint authority to lay down conditions over a retention lease. The memo says that while the joint authority has the power to make conditions such as the lessee being excluded from marine protected areas, those powers must conform to the general scope and purposes of the act. It would therefore appear that this act is being put before any marine protected area or national park legislation in the hierarchy of decision making. It seems curious that the joint authority can tell the lessee to stay out of a marine protected area, but the park service cannot. I want to know which takes precedence when it comes to gas and oil exploration—this particular act or an act to provide for a marine protected area?