Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I request that Senator Singh be added as a co-sponsor, and I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1023 standing in my name for today, relating to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Leave granted.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, can I seek clarification of the amendment?

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, Minister.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim—through you, Mr Deputy President—there was some discussion the last time this came up about clause (b)(ii) of the motion remaining or being removed by prior amendment. I seek clarification as to whether that clause is in the motion being moved now.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, that clause has been removed from the motion in the terms circulated in the chamber. I, and on behalf of Senator Singh, move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges the impact of recent fires on the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA);

(b) notes that:

(i) over 22 000 hectares inside the TWWHA has already been burned, and that many fires are still burning inside the TWWHA,

(ii) the Commonwealth Government is a signatory to the World Heritage Convention, which binds it to responsibly manage the TWWHA, and

(iii) scientists are predicting that it is likely that the TWWHA will experience hotter, drier conditions, and more dry lightning, in the future due to the impacts of global warming; and

(c) calls on the Australian Government to work with the Tasmanian Government to establish and adequately resource an independent inquiry to examine the response to the current fires in the TWWHA, and the planning for, management of, and response to future fire events in the TWWHA, to seek submissions and hold public hearings, and to examine, report and make recommendations on relevant matters, including:

(i) the impact of global warming on fire frequency and magnitude,

(ii) the availability and provision of financial, human and mechanical resources,

(iii) the adequacy of fire assessment and modelling capacity, and

(iv) any other related matters deemed necessary by the inquiry.

Question agreed to.