Paul Neville (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Is the minister aware of the supplementary environmental impact statement for the Traveston Crossing Dam? Will the minister guarantee the House that the federal government will not move on this highly unpopular project until the report is released widely and that transparent, genuine and proper consultation with the community will take place?

Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. The proposal to assess the Traveston Dam is currently in the hands of the Queensland government. As the member knows, it will be up to the Office of the Coordinator-General to bring forward all of the relevant assessments, including the one that he refers to, to the department for consideration. I have already given my commitment both here in the House and publicly that we will fully, comprehensively and diligently review all of the material that comes to us from the Queensland government in terms of the assessment proposal. We will ensure that matters of national environmental significance are considered. If there are any deficiencies in the information that is provided, I will seek that additional information, and we will take fully into account the views of the public before making a decision.