Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also at the request of Senator McDonald, move:

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 10 March 2024:

The Albanese Government's decision in mid-2022 to adopt a series of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee policy directives in relation to the Great Barrier Reef and other parts of regional Queensland, with particular reference to:

(a) specific practical information, including any detailed scientific evidence, on which the decision was based;

(b) impracticality of, and risks associated with, a number of the policies devised by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee;

(c) accusations that the Prime Minister and other relevant federal ministers have not consulted, or even met, with a multitude of individuals and business who are adversely impacted by the decision;

(d) the many detrimental ramifications of this lack of consultation;

(e) the breadth of the economic and social damage that is already being, and will continue to be, caused by this decision, including to farmers, graziers, commercial fishers, a host of small business operators and their respective families;

(f) subsequent lack of information, and delays—and accompanying uncertainty and anxiety—in relation to any compensation that might be provided as a consequence of the decision; and

(g) any other related matters.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

URQUHART (—) (): by leave—At the request of Senator Grogan, I move:

Omit "Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee", substitute "Environment and Communications References Committee".

Question agreed to.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, the leave was granted.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senators Duniam and McDonald for moving this motion, but the government will not be supporting it, because at its base the motion is based on incorrect assumptions and false premises. We welcome scrutiny of our policies. We've tabled correspondence from the minister on this topic numerous times. The motion refers to risks and potential economic damage. Our government would gladly examine the fact that the Liberals and Nationals put the reef at risk for years through their climate denialism. Those opposite are economic and environmental vandals who jeopardise not only the health of the reef but the 64,000 jobs that rely on the healthy reef and the $6.4 billion it brings to the Queensland economy. Of course our government continues to work with a range of stakeholders to secure the future of the reef. Only Labor governments in Australia and Queensland will protect the reef and the Queensland jobs that go with it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that Senate notice of motion No. 3 standing in the names of Senator Duniam and Senator McDonald as amended by Senator Urquhart on behalf of Senator Grogan be agreed to.