Tom French (Moore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in support of the High Seas Biodiversity Bill 2026. This bill concerns areas beyond national jurisdiction, but its consequences are not distant. It goes directly to the health of the ocean systems that sustain Australia's environment, economy and coastal communities. For my electorate of Moore, that connection is immediate. From Trigg through to Iluka, our coastline is central to how people live, work and engage with their community. Clean beaches, healthy marine life and a stable coastline are not abstract environmental outcomes. They are the foundation of local recreation, small-business activity and community life.

This bill gives effect to Australia's obligations under the high seas treaty, which was signed in 2023. It establishes the domestic framework required for Australia to ratify the agreement and participate in its implementation. Around 60 per cent of global ocean lies beyond national jurisdictions, yet only a very small portion of this is currently protected. These areas are not separate from us. Ocean systems are interconnected, and what occurs beyond our borders ultimately affects our coastline. That reality is evident in Moore. Pressures such as pollution, changing marine conditions and impacts on fish stocks do not originate solely within Australian waters.

This bill responds to that challenge by establishing a regulatory framework across three areas. The first is marine genetic resources, which are biological materials from the ocean with scientific and commercial value. The bill introduces a notification regime requiring Australian entities to disclose their collection and use. This promotes transparency and ensures that access to these resources is managed responsibly within an international framework. There is a clear local connection. Western Australia is home to significant marine research capability, and that work is increasingly translating into practical outcomes. In Moore, projects such as Uluu, at the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, demonstrate how marine research can support sustainable industry, including alternatives to plastic. This legislation supports that work by providing a consistent framework for how marine resources are accessed and utilised.

Second, the bill enables Australia to participate in the creation and management of protected areas on the high seas. This contributes to the global objective of protecting 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030. Australia already has a strong domestic record in marine protection. This bill extends that approach beyond our jurisdiction. That matters in Moore. Marine ecosystems do not operate in isolation. The effectiveness of protections within Australian waters is influenced by what occurs beyond them. Without coordinated international management, those protections are undermined.

Third, the bill establishes a regime requiring activities undertaken by Australian entities in areas beyond national jurisdiction to be assessed for their environmental impact. This ensures that risks are identified and addressed before activities proceed. It is a familiar regulatory approach, but its extension to the high seas represents a significant development in global environmental governance. For coastal communities like Moore, this is a practical safeguard. Environmental harm in international waters does not remain contained. It ultimately affects our shoreline.

The bill also embeds a precautionary approach, ensuring that uncertainty is not used as a reason to delay action where there is a risk of environmental harm. In addition, it establishes a compliance and enforcement framework, including strengthened civil penalties to ensure the regime is effective in practice. There is also a strategic dimension to this legislation. The high seas are governed through international cooperation, and, without ratification of the agreement, Australia would not participate in decisions that shape how those areas are managed. This bill ensures that Australia has a voice in those processes and can contribute to outcomes in our region.

There is also a clear economic interest. Coastal economies depend on the long-term health of marine environments. In Moore, local businesses, tourism operators and community organisations rely on access to a clean and stable coastal environment. Protecting that environment is not only an environmental objective; it's an economic one. The bill ensures that activity is conducted responsibly, transparently and in accordance with agreed international standards.

This legislation reflects a straightforward principle: the condition of our coastline is shaped by not only what we do within our borders but what occurs beyond them. For the people of Moore, this bill is a practical step in protecting the environment they rely on every day. It supports sustainable industry, sustains international cooperation and ensures Australia is contributing to the responsible management of the global ocean. For those reasons, I commend the bill to the House.

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