Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a shorter statement than last time.

Leave granted.

The proposed Victorian desalination plant is currently subject to a statutory assessment process. A detailed environmental effects statement has been released by Victoria for public comment. Comprehensive scoping requirements require the environmental effects statement to thoroughly examine the impact of the proposal on terrestrial and marine biodiversity, including nationally listed species, and on the Western Port Bay Ramsar wetland. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts has a statutory decision-making role in relation to this proposal that will be informed by all relevant information, including public comments on the environmental effects statement and the proponent’s response to those comments. It is inappropriate to prejudge the outcome of the assessment process in this chamber. Therefore, we will be opposing the motion.