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

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 141 in the terms circulated in the chamber.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the study by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies published this week shows that 67 per cent of corals in a 700 km swathe of reefs in the northern region of the Great Barrier Reef have died after the Reef's worst ever mass bleaching event,

(ii) mass coral bleaching is worsened by human-induced global warming,

(iii) Climate Action Tracker has assessed Australia's climate pollution reduction targets and clean energy policies as 'inadequate' to meet our fair share of action to stop dangerous global warming, and

(iv) the latest government figures show that Australia's climate pollution is increasing rather than decreasing; and

(b) calls on the Government to save the Great Barrier Reef, and the communities and workers which rely on its health, and help stop dangerous global warming by taking rapid action to cut pollution and build clean energy.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) 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.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition government is taking strong action on climate change. We have ratified the Paris Agreement and committed to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 per cent compared to 2005 levels by 2030. This ambitious target is in line with the actions of other countries. Our landmark Reef 2050 plan is a 35-year plan to ensure the reef is protected for future generations. The Australian and Queensland governments are jointly investing $2 million over 10 years to improve reef health. The coalition government is taking leadership in managing the transition to a lower emissions economy including through COAG.

Question agreed to.