Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That—

(a) the Senate notes the non-transparent process the Barnett and Abbott governments have followed in relation to the Roe 8 Extension and Perth Freight Link; and

(b) there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Environment, no later than 5 pm on Wednesday, 12 August 2015, the following documents which are not publicly available but crucial to the assessment process:

(i) the draft Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Perth and Peel Region, including any advice requested from the Western Australian Government on its progress;

(ii) evidence that the proponent’s offset proposal can be met,

(iii) any completed Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys and evidence of the Western Australian Department of Aboriginal Affairs’ Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee ‘sign off’ on the Roe 8 Extension,

(iv) evidence of formal consultation with Whadjuk Noongyar representatives,

(v) any evidence to support the proponent’s assertion on the Main Roads Western Australian website that the Whadjuk Noongyar people support the Roe 8 Extension and Perth Freight Link,

(vi) evidence that the Hope Road Swamp (Roe Swamp) site was deregistered during the time of environmental assessment on the Roe 8 Extension,

(vii) any survey work on the Mound (tumulus) Spring Inquiry post September 2013, and any advice on exact weighting of various Mound Spring categorisation criteria,

(viii) the independent modelling on the increased traffic, diesel particulate pollution, and noise pollution due to the increased scale and size of the Perth Freight Link project since the project was submitted for assessment in 2009,

(ix) any material, including maps, relating to alignments for the Perth Freight Link through North Fremantle,

(x) evidence of consideration of alternatives to the proposed Perth Freight Link, and

(xi) the business case for the Perth Freight Link.

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

Some of the documents sought by Senator Ludlam are either West Australian government documents or documents not required under national environmental law. As with all projects assessed under the EPBC Act, these projects are subject to a robust and transparent assessment process. Documents relevant to matters of national environmental significance have been made public and there has been ample opportunity for Senator Ludlam or any other interested parties to provide comment. The documents relating project details are commercial-in-confidence and may prejudice Commonwealth-state relations.

A 30-page summary business case for the Perth freight link was publicly released in December 2014, which details a breakdown of the benefit cost analysis results, the problems the project will resolve, the current challenges facing Western Australia and the frieght system, and the scope of the project.

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) 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.

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I recognise that Senator Fifield is sent in here with a brief by other ministers. He is not responsible for this portfolio but for the brief that they gave you to read, Senator Fifield, that said that this process has been robust and transparent, I could have called you out for misleading the chamber. The fact is that this is the least robust and transparent project assessment framework that I have ever come across. This project is worth somewhere between $1.6 billion and 2 ½ billion dollars and it was signed off without the business case, traffic modelling, environmental impact assessment having been done, strategic impact assessment of the Perth and Peel Region being done or a benefit cost analysis. The Prime Minister just said, 'Yes this is the one that we are going to do. We are going to build this thing whether they like it or not.' And now Commonwealth bureaucrats and the state bureaucrats are left to try and come up with some kind of justification. The Perth Freight Link is a disaster. More than 30 community groups have mobilised to confront it and to stop it. We need some transparency and we need these documents to be put into the public domain. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.