Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The New South Wales Liberal government is planning to build a massive international cruise ship terminal at Yarra Bay on the shores of Botany Bay. It's a ridiculous proposal and it's being progressed as I speak. The Southern Courier reports that New South Wales government representatives travelled to Florida, in the United States, to discuss the proposal with the bosses of Norwegian Cruise Line.

The proposal is strongly opposed by all in our community. Once again, the Bidjigal people, whose ancestors have called Yarra Bay their home for thousands of years, have not been consulted. They say that this proposal will destroy local traditional fishing areas and livelihoods. It's a crazy plan that will bring massive environmental damage. Botany Bay would once again have to be dredged, risking several protected marine species. A cruise ship terminal will also change the character of this seaside community, with more roads and increased congestion.

This ridiculous proposal has only come about because the former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, made a captain's call to rule out Garden Island as a location for a new terminal. It came despite the Cruise Industry Reference Group, headed by former New South Wales Liberal leader Peter Collins, clearly recommending Garden Island. So I now ask the new Prime Minister, the member for Cook, who is on the other side of Botany Bay: will you end this madness and rule out a cruise ship terminal for Yarra Bay and reconsider Garden Island as the right location?