Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy, regarding the dumping of dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef. The public found out last weekend, on the front page of the Australian, that the government is proposing to impose a fee for dumping dredge spoil—spoil which has been ripped off the sea floor in the first place—right back onto the reef. Only selected closed consultation was undertaken by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority on this incredible proposal, so the Australian people know very little about it. My question is: what on earth was the government thinking with this proposal to force the authority charged with protecting the reef to raise money from polluting it and when did the government plan to tell the Australian public about its plans to turn the reef into a marine rubbish tip?

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

I think Senator Waters for her question, but I would caution her—and I am sure all of our colleagues sitting around the chamber would join me in this—not to take anything on the front page of the Australian as a given fact. I am sure I do not need to explain that to your colleagues.

The Great Barrier Reef is, as you know, one of the world's great treasures and the Australian government is committed to responsible management of this region to protect it for future generations. Disposing of dredge material in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is absolutely a last option and all proposals are subject to a rigorous environmental impact assessment process before a permit is granted. The Australian government has asked the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to consult on a proposed environmental management charge for the disposal of dredge material in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The authority is perfectly capable of making decisions to protect the reef regardless of how revenue is raised. You only have to look at Mr Burke's response to the Hummock Hill Island proposal, which would have increased revenue through the tourism management charge, to see this. It is absurd that tourism operators have to pay a charge to operate in the reef but that dredgers do not. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is widely recognised as one of the best managed marine protected areas in the world. It is a multiple use marine park which supports a range of activities, industries, communities and businesses. The Australian government has asked that consultation occur in relation to the possible introduction of an EMC for dredge material disposal in the marine park. The consultation period closed on 23 February 2012 and comments are now being collated. (Time expired)

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. If the proposed dumping fee had been imposed on the 22 million cubic metres of dredge spoil already approved to be dumped in the reef World Heritage area, it would have raised more than GBRMPA's current annual budget. Can the minister advise how this dirty money for dirty deeds is anything other than an incentive for GBRMPA to approve more dumping?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

On a point of order, Mr President: the senator from South Australia to my right is making very clear allegations about a matter before the Privileges Committee. I ask you to have him withdraw.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, Mr President: you did not hear that and I assure the Senate and everybody else that Senator Bernardi did not say what Senator Brown alleges—and this is another occasion where Senator Brown simply verbals anyone he does not agree with.

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I did not hear anything at all, Senator Brown; I can assure you of that. If there was a comment, it was certainly not heard up here. I am attempting to get silence so Senator Waters can have her question heard properly. Senator Waters, please repeat the last part of your question—which I did not hear because of the disorderly exchanges across the chamber.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister advise how this dirty money for dirty deeds is anything other than an incentive for GBRMPA to approve more dumping? Are there any safeguards proposed to ensure that this does not just incentivise the regulator to approve more dumping?

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

Consultation occurred with all current holders of a Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority permit which allows the disposal of dredge material in the marine park; those who have applied for such a permit; ports corporations; some industry groups, including those covering marine tourism and fishing; and technical and community advisory groups. Comments on the proposal have also been received from members of the public as a result of information regarding the consultation being made available on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority public website. The government will take into account all comments before deciding if any charge should be introduced.

Consistent with Australia's National assessment guidelines for dredging 2009, the government's preference is that the disposal of dredge material at sea is considered only when all other disposal alternatives have been exhausted. However, it is recognised that, in some circumstances, the disposal of dredge material in the marine park is the only feasible option. (Time expired)

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question but, before I ask it, I note that the website referred to by the minister was password protected and was not available to the public. My question is: with UNESCO already expressing extreme concern about the coal seam gas export facilities wiping out Gladstone Harbour's World Heritage values, with the proposed more than trebling of shipping through reef ports and with the unprecedented dredging—to facilitate fossil fuel exports—in the World Heritage area, has the government told UNESCO about these pay-to-pollute dumping plans? What is the government doing to stop Australia joining Yemen, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger? (Time expired)

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

It should be noted that dredge spoil has been disposed of in the marine park over many years in accordance with strict permit conditions. The proposal to introduce an EMC for dredge material will provide for additional measures to protect the Great Barrier Reef. It is anticipated that by having a charge fewer applications will actually be received to dispose of dredge material in the marine park. If there is any further information that I can add or that the minister would like to add to that, I will take any further parts of your question on notice.