Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education) Share this | Hansard source

I indicated to Senator Sterle that if there was any further information I could get in relation to his question, I would come back to the chamber. I have had the opportunity to review the Deputy Prime Minister's statement and it is, in effect, a statement of fact at a point in time, as the Deputy Prime Minister saw it. The Shenhua Watermark mine must submit a biodiversity management plan and a water management plan for approval before work can start. These plans have not been submitted yet. The preparation and submission of these plans is entirely up to Shenhua, and the project cannot proceed without a mining lease from New South Wales.