Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I would have hoped, Senator Macdonald, that you would have enough knowledge of this area to understand how these arrangements in government work. The EPBC Act is an act under which Minister Garrett has a certain statutory role and statutory discretion. I believe that the senator’s question relates to the Sugarloaf Pipeline, which, of course, was stage 1 of the Victorian government’s food bowl project. The Commonwealth government, I should be very clear with the senator, is not funding any aspect of stage 1 of the food bowl project. But it is the case that the Sugarloaf Pipeline has been determined to be a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and it is currently being assessed.

As I have previously indicated, the minister for the environment has a statutory discretion under that legislation, and it is not appropriate for me or any other minister to impact upon that inappropriately or to have discussions other than the consultation which is contemplated under the legislation. So I am sure that the issues that are relevant to consideration of that controlled action are issues that Minister Garrett will be taking into account when making a determination under that legislation.

Can I say that it is an area where there has been some community concern, and I think Senator Macdonald’s question reflects that. It certainly is an issue that has been discussed at some length in the Victorian press. How best to deal with water availability at this time, particularly given the drought and the impact of climate change, which I discussed in answer to a question from Senator Kirk, is obviously a difficult decision for state governments.

In short, I understand that the Sugarloaf Pipeline matter has been assessed at the state level by the advisory committee, and public comment has been received. The state consideration process has been accredited under the EPBC Act, and I am advised that at this stage Minister Garrett’s department has examined the advisory committee’s report. Additional documentation has been provided by the proponent and the proponent has been requested to provide further information. Minister Garrett will make his decision on this project only when he is confident that the proponent has provided the information necessary to enable him to make a fully informed decision that ensures that matters of national environmental significance are protected.