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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)   recognises that the Solwara 1 Project in the Bismarck Sea off Papua New Guinea plans to mine copper and gold at a depth of 1 600 metres and is the world's first deep seabed mining project;

(b)   acknowledges that full-scale undersea excavation of mineral deposits globally has potential to remove parts of the sea floor and damage the ocean's health as a result of leakage, spills and damage caused by increased toxicity and sediment from tailings; and

(c)   calls on the Government to establish an inquiry, to report by 1 October 2011, into seabed mining to assess:

  (i)   the level of interest in seabed mining in Australian waters and in waters in the region neighbouring Australia,

  (ii)   the potential impact on the marine environment and resources if this industry develops, and

  (iii)   the need for regulation or a regional agreement to manage and reduce the potential for this industry to impact on marine productivity.

Question put.

The Senate divided. [16:22]

(The Deputy President: Senator Ferguson)

Question negatived.