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

Mr President, I have a response to a question by Senator Siewert asked of me yesterday in relation to protection for the Coorong under the EPBC Act. I will briefly provide that information, through you, Mr President. As I previously said, the government is committed to addressing this serious situation facing the Coorong and Lower Lakes, including through providing $6 million in funding to pump water from Lake Alexandrina to Lake Albert to manage acidification risks. The Coorong and Lower Lakes already receive protection under the EPBC Act as listed Ramsar wetlands. The Australian government has received a nomination for the Coorong and Lower Lakes to be listed as a threatened ecological community under the EPBC Act. The independent Threatened Species Scientific Committee is considering this nomination. As the Senate may be aware, this is an expert panel that advises the minister on whether applications should be subject to a full assessment for listing as ecological communities under the act. This committee undertakes a scientific assessment of all nominations against its criteria before making recommendations to the minister. That is the additional information I have obtained.