Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

In the words of the Treasurer from last night, this budget is 'solid, steady and sensible'. I think it's probably a fair yarn to say it's in that 'solid and steady' territory. There's not a lot that's new here—it's not particularly bold or visionary—but I do take umbrage with the word 'sensible'. I don't think it's sensible to be spending $240 billion on tax cuts that are mostly going to benefit the wealthy in this country. Nor do I think it's sensible in a time of climate emergency to be spending $40 billion-plus on fossil fuel subsidies, including billions of dollars in direct corporate welfare from the taxpayer to facilitate fossil fuel projects.

To put that in perspective, compare that $40 billion to the $97 million contribution over four years to the Great Barrier Reef in this budget. I support money going to the Great Barrier Reef. It's not going to fix the problem. Only acting on emissions is going to fix the problem—no more new oil, gas and coal—but I do support that money going to the Barrier Reef. The Barrier Reef is, clearly, a World Heritage listed international gem. It contributes $6.4 billion annually to this country's GDP and it employs 64,000 people, so it is very important that we try to do whatever we can to help the Great Barrier Reef.

But I want to raise today that there's no money in this budget for the Great Barrier Reef's southern sister, the Great Southern Reef, which spans from New South Wales down through Victoria and Tasmania and across to South Australia. This system of temperate reefs contributes nearly $10 billion annually—nearly double what the Great Barrier Reef contributes to our economy. Of course, these are absolutely critical ecosystems, so it's disappointing that there's nothing in here for the Great Southern Reef. Look at the money that's going to the Great Barrier Reef; for example, the government has spent $1.6 billion in the last five years. What have they spent on the Great Southern Reef? Only around $30 million.

If you look at one of the programs on the Great Barrier Reef, hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years have gone to tackling the crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak, but only $4 million over 20 years has gone to tackling Centrostephanus, the long-spined sea urchin that is creating barrens in our oceans and devastating commercial fisheries, ecosystems and local communities. There's a lot the government has to do to fund research and adaption measures down in the Great Southern Reef. There are amazing people down there. You're going to be hearing a lot more from the Greens on this in the months to come, and we're looking forward to getting some budget outcomes in the next few years as— (Time expired)