Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—So this is Labor policy. The argument that the Manager of Government Business gives for Antarctica already being well protected under various mechanisms is an argument for saying how easy and logical it is for giving it world park status and for moving for World Heritage listing. The argument that it needs a country with territorial claim—effectively, Australia has the largest territorial claim for Antarctica but has suspended it as part of the Antarctic Treaty organisation—puts Australia in the box seat to be making this move. The motion calls for Australia to be a leader in conserving Antarctica and in giving it the status of the top World Heritage listed item on the planet. The government should be proceeding with this and the Greens intend to continue—because it is logical, appropriate and it would do this country proud—to take a lead in seeing that Antarctica gets this status.

Question agreed to.