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

by leave—Minister Garrett’s statutory decision-making responsibility for the Traveston Dam proposal will not commence until the Queensland government formally submits the Coordinator-General’s final assessment report. A decision on the proposal will then only be made after thorough consideration of all relevant information in strict accordance with the requirements of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The Australian government calls on Senator Bob Brown to make himself aware of and have respect for the proper processes by which environmental decision making occurs. The act includes opportunities for public comment and, in relation to the Traveston proposal, these opportunities have been utilised extensively.

As the minister’s track record in relation to this and other proposals demonstrates, he is committed to ensuring that environmental assessment processes are conducted in a rigorous, comprehensive and transparent manner. However, the public release of material relevant to a project will always be carried out in accordance with the proper process under national environmental law. The draft report is a document of the Queensland government, and it is for the Queensland government to decide whether it wishes to release it.