Ian Campbell (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Heritage) Share this | Hansard source

I have visited Christmas Island. I have in fact looked at the mining operations. Obviously, I have looked very closely at the proposal that is currently before the government to expand those operations. In some respects, those expanded operations would in fact impact on the fantastic rainforest on Christmas Island. As Senator Siewert knows, it is an extraordinary piece of Australian territory and an extraordinary piece of natural heritage for the world. It is something that is deserving of very high levels of protection.

We are very disturbed at any reports of breaches of the conditions that pertain to those phosphate mining operations on Christmas Island. All reports of incidents that impact on the biological, biodiversity and natural heritage values of the island that are subject to the stringent protection of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act will be fully investigated and, where prosecutions are recommended, prosecutions will be made.