Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) Advent Energy intends to conduct 3D seismic testing to explore for gas within one of the most productive fishing grounds in New South Wales, only 3 kilometres off the coast of Newcastle in Commonwealth waters,

(ii) seismic testing has impacted on our fisheries in the past, with local fishers describing affected areas as 'like a desert',

(iii) the Federal Government has recently removed the requirement for offshore petroleum or greenhouse gas activities in Commonwealth waters to be assessed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act),

(iv) an application by the Commonwealth Fisheries Association for seismic testing to be listed as a key threatening process under the EPBC Act in March 2013 was rejected in September 2013, and

(v) if this exploration or gas drilling proceeds, the supply of locally caught, fresh fish and prawns to Sydney and Newcastle will be directly affected; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) reinstate the requirement for all offshore petroleum or greenhouse gas activities in Commonwealth waters to be assessed under the EPBC Act,

(ii) ensure comprehensive baseline studies and ongoing monitoring of marine life are a mandatory condition of any offshore petroleum activities,

(iii) reject Advent Energy's application to conduct seismic testing within important fishing grounds off the New South Wales coast, and

(iv) reconsider whether seismic testing should be classified as a key threatening process under the EPBC Act.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition government is committed to reducing duplication and unnecessary regulation, while maintaining high environmental standards. That is what we have achieved by naming the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority as the sole assessor and approver for offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas activities in Commonwealth waters. In doing so, a rigorous assessment was completed to ensure the same high standards of the EPBC Act will be maintained. The streamlined approach will lead to savings for industry and environmental groups worth an estimated $120 million per year.

Question negatived.