David Feeney (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development) Bill 2012. My congratulations to those who crafted such a snappy title! The debate we have had over this bill since it was introduced into parliament on 22 March 2012 is a clear indication of the importance members and senators attach to the issues surrounding coal seam gas and coalmining. It is a reflection of the interest and concern shown by many Australians in the wider community. It is important to note that this bill was referred to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, which then recommended that it be passed.

The government has become aware of the widespread opposition to coal seam gas and coalmining expressed at many meetings, demonstrations and even marches up and down the country. However, it believes much of this concern stems from a lack of available hard scientific data on the effect of these types of developments on Australia's land and water resources. We believe this bill will address these concerns by establishing an independent statutory committee to provide scientific advice to relevant governments on coal seam gas and large coalmining developments when they are likely to have a significant impact on water resources. The independent expert scientific committee, which will come into being under this legislation, will advise the minister on research priorities that address critical gaps in our scientific understanding. It will scope and oversee research commissioned by the minister in line with those priorities. When requested, it will provide further evidence to inform regulatory decisions made by federal, state and territory governments.

An interim scientific committee was appointed by the minister in January 2012, and it has commenced work on the first five bioregional assessments in regions facing significant levels of coal seam gas and coalmining development, including the Galilee, Gunnedah, Gloucester and Clarence-Moreton basins. The interim committee has played a valuable role in providing the government with independent expert scientific advice on a number of projects, including approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It is now expected that the interim committee will hand over its work to the new committee during the short and seamless transition period in September.

There is a clear mandate for the committee to operate in a very transparent way, with all of its advice on specific development projects as well as the outcomes of any research commissioned and bioregional assessments being published on its website. Above all, this will be an expert scientific committee. Members will be appointed on the basis of their relevant scientific qualifications or other expertise, such as experience in relevant disciplines. The committee has been provided with $150 million to progress its activities. These include support for bioregional assessments and investments in projects that will provide information on the impact of coal seam gas and large coalmining developments on water resources. The work of the committee will be supported by a national partnership agreement between the Australian government and relevant state and territory governments where coal seam gas and large coalmining developments take place or are likely to take place. So far Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria have signed up to the agreement.

Providing a rigorous science basis to underpin approvals is a paramount objective of this government. The committee will play a vital role in this, as it will ensure that independent scientific evidence is available to all governments when they consider applications for these types of developments. It will provide local communities and other stakeholders with accessible and reliable information that will build and engender greater confidence in government approval processes for coal seam gas and large coalmining developments.

I foreshadow that the government will move amendments during the committee stage to clarify that the bill will not commence retrospectively on 1 July 2012 and to resolve requirements regarding the qualifications and expertise of members. The effect of these amendments will be to remove retrospectivity from the commencement of the provisions and to allow the responsible minister to recognise qualifications and relevant experience in appointing members of the committee. I thank senators for their contribution to this important debate and commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.