Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 659 standing in my name, relating to cruise ship terminals.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry into the Environment Protection Authority found that the decision to build a $57 million cruise ship terminal at White Bay in Balmain, instead of at Barangaroo, was a ‘serious error’, and acknowledged the significant impact of fumes and the corresponding issues with noise and vibrations have had on the quality of life of the surrounding community,

(ii) the relocation of the cruise ship terminal to White Bay was opposed by the cruise ship industry, local councils and community groups alike,

(iii) since the White Bay facility opened in 2013 it has received many complaints from local residents concerned about the health impacts of the air and noise pollution associated with cruise ships,

(iv) the cruise ship industry is growing significantly and contributes to the Australian tourism industry and local jobs, and

(v) as a growing industry, the cruise ship industry must minimise its growing environmental impacts and remove the significant health risks that its high sulphur fuels currently pose; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to work with state governments on a national plan that enables the cruise ship industry to:

(i) implement mandatory requirements that all new cruise ship terminals have ship-to-shore power,

(ii) implement the New South Wales parliamentary recommendations to install shore to shore power for ships when they are moored at White Bay, and for cruise ship operators to develop noise mitigation strategies, and

(iii) ensure that the maximum allowable sulphur content for all cruise ship fuels is reduced to 0.1 per cent in line with United States of America and European Union regulations.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor acknowledges efforts to refine the wording of this motion, but we are unable to come to an agreement on final words. Labor welcomes cruise ships to Australia as a rapidly growing means of bringing international tourists to Australia, therefore creating local jobs. As with all industries, the environmental impacts of cruise shipping need to be carefully managed. New South Wales Labor acted to refer White Bay community concerns to a New South Wales inquiry, and it has welcomed the recent decision of the New South Wales government to copy New South Wales Labor's policy to mandate low-sulfur fuel. Federal Labor supports work with state governments and the cruise industry to minimise local community impacts, including fuel use, berthing practices, noise monitoring and ship to shore power.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The decision to put White Bay cruise ship terminal next to a residential area in Balmain was made by New South Wales Labor. The New South Wales coalition government is taking action. By 1 January 2020, all ships docked at Australian ports must comply with much stricter pollution controls when docked in port. A revised international agreement will provide much stricter limits on air pollutants contained in ship exhaust gas, including sulfur oxides and nitrous oxides, and prohibit deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances. By 2020, all ships docked at White Bay will be required to implement new measures to reduce the sulfur cap in fuel from 3.5 per cent to 0.5 per cent. The Commonwealth government congratulates the New South Wales Minister for the Environment, Rob Stokes, for commencing consultations with the cruise industry to bring forward new measures ahead of 1 January 2020. The Commonwealth government supports stronger action to improve air quality, including actions by the cruise ship industry to introduce measures ahead of 2020 to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from cruise liners docked at ports near residential areas. (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Rhiannon, as amended, be agreed to.