Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Hansard source

In making a contribution on behalf of the coalition on the High Seas Biodiversity Bill 2026, I note the coalition's longstanding desire to work with the government in a bipartisan way—over these last 20 years, in fact—to ensure that the high seas do not become a burying ground, for want of a better expression, for the world's biodiversity that lives in the oceans. It has taken almost 20 years to agree a treaty, and a lot of this good work was spearheaded by former minister for the environment Robert Hill, who was a great Liberal environment minister but also Australia's Ambassador to the United Nations, where he led a good deal of the initial negotiations. I think probably the best way to put this is that he outlined the concept that was concerning the Australian government at the time, which was that commercial fishers were effectively trawling the seabeds of the deep seas and, in doing so, destroying their biodiversity, that being a catastrophic outcome for the overall environment.

The deep seas—or the far seas, perhaps—are not regulated in the most orderly fashion. I often question myself, when we pass laws through this parliament: 'Who exactly is going to enforce this law, and how effective will they be in enforcing it?' In relation to the deep seas it is probably a good question to ask, but the intention is that, in relation to the seas beyond Australia's territory, we, at least, should take responsibility for our own participants and put in place strong penalties should those participants choose to degrade the oceans.

There are, I think, proposals before the Senate to make some amendments to this bill. We're considering those, as part of an orderly process.

The main point I wanted to make was that we recognise the constraints and limits of international laws and agreements and treaties. I think they are all inherently flawed. But this is one which, certainly, on a best-endeavours basis, tries to put in place a framework in which countries can enact a treaty, requiring those nations to impose sanctions on its domestic participants that undermine the biodiversity which we all rely on, as humans and animals cohabitating on this Earth. So we are pleased that the government have ratified the treaty on behalf of Australia.

We acknowledge, in particular, Robert Hill, as a spearthrower in this great endeavour some 20 years ago, and note his ongoing interest in it—if he is tuning in, with the other millions of people that are listening to the Senate today. So we acknowledge him.

We acknowledge the work of the government in bringing this bill forward. We will be looking to support this on a bipartisan basis. We look forward to questioning the government on its enforcement record, when it puts in place its new environmental bureaucracy. We hope that it is a bureaucracy which does more harm—does less harm than good. I'm trying to work on that one. 'Does more good than bad'—maybe that's a good one; what do you think? Good? You can't answer the question. So that's what we hope. We hope this will be a good proposal.

We will be, of course, undertaking our role, as an opposition, of being sceptical about all laws and making sure that we get law enforcement right. We will be, I think, considering some proposals from others that want to make some last-minute changes, and I think we're open to those, subject to some further consultation. It has taken 20 years to get to this point. As it stands, this is a good step forward, and we look forward to doing our part as responsible citizens that rely on the oceans for our own lives and wellbeing.