Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Boswell for his question. The Gillard government is committed to protecting matters of national environmental significance on Cape York Peninsula under national environmental law. The assessment process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is rigorous, and there are a number of points at which the public are invited to comment.

The South of Embley project is being assessed under national environmental law. On 15 March, Minister Burke revoked the original referral decision and substituted it with one that takes the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park World Heritage and National Heritage into account. To address the new controlling provisions, the proponent must prepare a new draft environmental impact statement, which will be available for public comment. On 17 November 2011, Minister Burke received a valid request under section 78A of the EPBC Act to reconsider the original controlled action referral decision on the basis of new and substantial information about shipping activities through the Great Barrier Reef. Information about shipping activities was not provided by the proponent at the time of the original controlled action referral decision.

In making his decision, Minister Burke considered advice from the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Rio Tinto and public comments received during the invitation-to-comment period. The Great Barrier Reef is—as every senator in this chamber would agree—one of our most significant environmental assets and it has been recognised as being among the world's healthiest coral reefs and ecosystems and best managed marine areas. The government makes no apologies— (Time expired)