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. This week, the World Heritage Committee is meeting to discuss UNESCO's draft decision about the state of our Great Barrier Reef. The draft decision says the reef is on track for World Heritage in Danger listing—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Wait a minute, Senator Waters. You are entitled to be heard in silence. There is talk going on on both sides of the chamber. It makes it difficult to hear.

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

Thank you, Mr President. The draft decision said that the reef was on track for World Heritage in Danger listing within eight months if current developments proceed. It said there should be no new ports, no port expansions that would harm the values of the reef, no new development approvals before the strategic assessment of the reef is finished, and that independent science is needed into the Gladstone harbour—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Excuse me, Mr President, this is ridiculous.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! When there is silence, on both sides, we will proceed. Senator Waters, continue.

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

Thanks, Mr President. Given this slap in the face, will the minister now do as UNESCO asks and put a moratorium on new development affecting the reef and stop approving the frenzy of dredging—

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

Let UNESCO run Australia.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Waters, cease asking your question because there is noise which prevents me from hearing the question, which is not fair to you and not fair to the minister who has to answer the question.

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

Will the minister now do as UNESCO asks and put a moratorium on new development affecting the reef and stop approving this frenzy of dredging, dumping and shipping for coal and coal seam gas to avoid the international embarrassment of a World Heritage in Danger listing?

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

I thank the senator for her question. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's greatest treasures. It is one of Australia's most significant environmental places and has been recognised as one of the healthiest coral reef ecosystems and best managed marine areas in the world. The Gillard government is acutely aware of the challenges facing the reef, such as climate change and the impacts of coastal development. The threats to the reef and the issues impacting on it, highlighted in the mission's report and the draft state of consultation report, are clearly acknowledged in the outlook report of the Great Barrier Reef prepared by the GBRMPA in 2009. While these issues are complex—

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What does that stand for, Stephen?

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

we are committed—Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, for you—to addressing them.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator Waters is entitled to hear the answer to the question. Those on my left will remain silent.

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

While these issues are complex, the government is committed to addressing them through a range of approaches both on land and in the marine environment. The UNESCO mission in March acknowledged that our management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area is still considered to be best practice. The state of conservation report also made some recommendations for the comprehensive strategic assessment of the Great Barrier Reef currently being undertaken by the Australian and Queensland governments. This will be by far the largest and most comprehensive and complex assessment undertaken in Australia, and is still in its early stages. Minister Burke welcomed the mission's feedback when they were here in March. (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting —

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

I am so pleased the chamber is so excited about the Great Barrier Reef—that is wonderful. Mr President, I have a supplementary question. Given that our reef is being treated like a coal and gas highway, having its guts ripped out by mass dredging—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

It is, guys; I hate to tell you.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order!

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

and being used as a rubbish tip for offshore dumping, when will the federal government enable the strategic assessment to which the minister referred to actually stop current development proposals in the reef, and when will it reverse its decision to give Premier Newman power over the reef once the strategic assessment is done?

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

I utterly reject the premise of that question. Let me be very clear: I reject the premise. As I was saying, the minister welcomed the mission's feedback when they were here in March and it will be taken into account when finalising the terms of reference of the strategic assessment. There were no surprises in either report's findings to the Australian government. The threats to the reef highlighted in the reports are clearly acknowledged in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report that was prepared by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in 2009. UNESCO continue to acknowledge that the government's management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area is considered to be international best practice in many areas. We do not just operate on the basis of text messages being sent around the place. Let us be clear: the mission report recognised the excellence of many aspects of the management— (Time expired)

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

Mr President, I have a second supplementary question. What is the environment minister doing about Clive Palmer's proposals to dump millions of litres of contaminated water from his Yabulu nickel refinery into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area, despite installing a wastewater treatment plant seven years ago which was meant to avoid the tailings dams overtopping? Is the minister really going to let Clive Palmer turn the reef into his own personal rubbish dump?

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

The government are aware of the importance of preserving water quality throughout the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's proposed approach has the government's full support. The matter can best be resolved through a transparent, comprehensive and cooperative consideration of the alternatives to the disposal of this untreated water, including the option of discharging treated water from the tailings dams. QNPL does not have a Great Barrier Reef Marine Park permit to discharge waste water from the tailings dams. If there is anything further that the minister would like to add, I will take that on notice.