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

We are getting some very embittered comments from the coalition opposite, who do not value the global significance of the Coral Sea in the way that the Greens do. This motion acknowledges that next year will be the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942. That, of course, is part of the history not just of this nation but of our relationship with the United States. President Obama will be here next week. I would have thought it would be an enormously wonderful opportunity to flag the potential of a great national park where that great battle took place in the run to the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea next year. That is the prospect that we have inherent in this motion.

Consultation is important. It has been going on for a long time. Our challenge to the government is to ensure that everything possible is done to make this great potential declaration of a national park in the Coral Sea come to reality in time for that 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea next year.