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

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 2 February 2012:

With reference to the proposed strategic assessment of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area:

(1) How are comments made by a spokeswoman from the department, reported by Australian Associated Press on 11 January 2012, suggesting that the strategic assessment will focus on identifying and assessing cumulative impacts from major industry and port developments, including ongoing dredging projects such as that at Gladstone, which could affect the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, consistent with the following statements:

(a) by the Minister on Four Corners, aired on 7 November 2011, that 'I'd prefer a situation where as much as possible is able to be dealt with once we've concluded the strategic assessment, but people have legal rights under law to commence the process, and those processes continue in the interim'; and

(b) by the departmental Deputy Secretary, Ms Dripps, during the 2011 Supplementary Budget estimates hearing of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee on 18 October 2011, that 'Any proposal for development along the coast of Queensland that was likely to occur after that point [the conclusion of the strategic assessment] would be included in the strategic assessment'.

(2) What implications, if any, will the strategic assessment have on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) assessment process, conditions and outcomes for each of the following types of projects that are having, or are likely to have, a significant impact on the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage values:

(a) projects currently undergoing a project level EPBC Act assessment, where a final decision is: (i) likely, or (ii) unlikely, to be made prior to the conclusion of the strategic assessment;

(b) projects that have been referred for project level EPBC Act assessment since the strategic assessment was announced; and

(c) projects that will be referred prior to the conclusion of the strategic assessment.

(3) What implications, if any, will the strategic assessment have on the EPBC Act assessment process, conditions and outcomes for each of the following types of projects that are having, or are likely to have, a significant impact on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park:

(a) projects currently undergoing a project level EPBC Act assessment, where a final decision is: (i) likely, or (ii) unlikely, to be made prior to the conclusion of the strategic assessment;

(b) projects that have been referred for project level EPBC Act assessment since the strategic assessment was announced; and

(c) projects that will be referred prior to the conclusion of the strategic assessment.

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

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The comprehensive strategic assessment of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area aims to protect the environment, support more efficient and effective regulation of future coastal development and meet Australia's obligations to protect the World Heritage values of the property. It will achieve this by examining direct, indirect and cumulative impacts from existing, planned and potential future coastal development activities.

The strategic assessment can not “suspend” or “switch off” assessment and approval processes for individual actions that have already been referred or are referred before completion of the strategic assessment. Consistent with legal requirements, assessments will continue for individual project proposals in the Queensland coastal zone or Great Barrier Reef. Proponents of controlled actions will be expected to meet a high standard of assessment, including consideration of cumulative impacts, where appropriate, to ensure that any individual project assessment does not compromise the strategic assessment process.

The Australian Government will strongly encourage all proponents of actions in the Great Barrier Reef to have their proposals considered as part of the strategic assessment process rather than individually, however, the government is required to consider all valid proposals referred in accordance with the law.

(2) Refer to (1) above. Actions that have been referred or are referred before the completion of the strategic assessment will be assessed stringently in accordance with usual assessment and approval provisions of the EPBC Act to ensure ongoing protection of the World Heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef.

(3) Refer to (1) above. Proposed actions that have been referred or are referred before the completion of the strategic assessment will be assessed rigorously in accordance with the usual assessment and approval provisions of the EPBC Act to ensure ongoing protection of the environment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.