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

On 14 August 2012 during question time Senator Siewert asked me a question as the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities concerning James Price Point. I seek leave to incorporate the answer in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The answer read as follows—

QUESTIONS

3a   How is the government going to undertake to make the decision?

3b   Is the government aware that Woodside have told marine researchers not to tell anybody about the fact that they had photographed the miniature spinner dolphins?

3c   What action will the minister take to address this particular issue around the miniature spinner dolphins?

RESPONSE

3a   Under the terms of reference for the joint federal-state strategic assessment for the Browse LNG precinct, potential impacts to protected matters, such as humpback whales and dolphins, must be appropriately investigated.

The minister will not be in a position to make a decision on this proposal until all matters required by the terms of the strategic assessment, with a focus on potential impacts to matters of national environmental significance, have been appropriately investigated by the Western Australian Government.

3b   No.

3c   Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) all cetaceans, including whales and dolphins, are protected in Australian waters.

Potential impacts to protected matters, such as dolphins, must be appropriately investigated and addressed by the Western Australian Government in its strategic assessment report and plan for the Browse LNG Precinct.