Senate debates

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

Motions

Mining Industry

4:16 pm

Photo of Larissa WatersLarissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate notes that the Adani Carmichael coal mine could be stopped by:

(a) review of its environmental approval under section 145 of the EnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999 (the Act), based on new information such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's climate warnings or the evidence of Adani's overseas and domestic breaches;

(b) refusal of their draft groundwater management plan; or

(c) refusal of approval under the Act for the pipeline the mine requires, the North Galilee Water scheme.

Photo of Anne RustonAnne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of Anne RustonAnne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | | Hansard source

The government is applying the most vigorous assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to this project. The Carmichael mine has been assessed and approved under the process and is subject to over 180 environmental conditions from state and Commonwealth regulators. The water management plans for the project are being thoroughly assessed, including with advice from the CSIRO and Geoscience Australia. The North Galilee Water Scheme is under assessment under the act.

4:17 pm

Photo of Anthony ChisholmAnthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of Anthony ChisholmAnthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Labor opposes this motion because an environment minister or future environment minister cannot prejudge a decision under the EPBC Act. Labor's position on this issue is already on the record.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 1313 be agreed to.