Andrew Bartlett (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 899 standing in my name before asking that it be taken as a formal motion.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) over 36,000 hectares have been earmarked to be bulldozed in catchments flowing into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park under permits brought in under the previous Liberal National Party Government in Queensland, including the proposal to clear almost 2,000 hectares of pristine forest on the Kingvale property in Cape York,

  (ii) the Commonwealth Government has the power under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to decide whether or not this and other clearing in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park catchments should proceed,

  (iii) Australian government commitments to strengthen controls to protect bushland in Great Barrier Reef catchments was a key factor in convincing the World Heritage Committee not to place the Great Barrier Reef on the 'in danger' list, and

  (iv) four major Australian environmental organisations have now written to the United Nations calling for an urgent investigation into the Turnbull Government's failure to protect the Great Barrier Reef from the impacts of deforestation; and

(b) calls on the Minister for the Environment and Energy (Mr Frydenberg) to act immediately to ensure deforestation in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park catchments is properly controlled, and ensuring that any clearing proposals are rigorously considered to the highest standards under the law.

Question agreed to.