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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) on 2 October 2017, the Hobart City Council supported a motion in relation to cruise ship fuel in Hobart,

(ii) the City of Hobart resolved to urgently write to the Federal Government to request that, through appropriate legislative directives, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport set an upper limit of 0.1 per cent for fuel oil sulphur content for bunker fuel while cruise ships are berthed in the Port of Hobart, the bunker fuel burned by cruise ships in the Port of Hobart can currently have up to 3.5 per cent sulphur content in contrast to Sydney Harbour where cruise ships have a legislated limit of less than 0.1 per cent sulphur content, and

(iii) the legislated limit for Sydney Harbour of 0.1 per cent was enacted due to public concern over the harmful effects on human health of high sulphur content in bunker fuel affecting air quality in Sydney Harbour; and

(b) calls on the Government to urgently respond to the City of Hobart and set an upper limit of 0.1 per cent fuel oil sulphur content for cruise ships berthed in the Port of Hobart.

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, Senator McGrath.

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

The government understands that the Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority will be monitoring air quality across this cruise ship season. The government is willing to consider a request from the Tasmanian government to implement a lower fuel-sulphur-content level for cruise ships at berth in the port of Hobart, if it is submitted with supporting evidence.

Question agreed to.