Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Senator Cormann. Minister, Australians love their oceans, especially their Barrier Reef. Yesterday key US science organisation NOAA put out their prediction for the Great Barrier Reef: there's a 90 per cent chance of coral bleaching by mid-March. This would be the third coral bleaching event in just five years. Minister, I presume the government is watching this closely. Are you concerned? Can you update the chamber on what your observations are and what the prognosis would be for the reef if a third mass coral bleaching were to occur?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Firstly, what I can say—and I'm sure that everybody around the chamber agrees—is that the Australian government is deeply committed to protecting the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. The reef generates—

Greens senators interjecting—

I'm disappointed the Greens would not agree with that. Who would have thought? The reef generates 64,000 jobs and contributes—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Whish-Wilson?

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order: I asked if the government was concerned and whether he could update the chamber on whether they agree with NOAA's prediction of a 90 per cent probability of coral bleaching. There was nothing else—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whish-Wilson, towards the end of your question you asked very broad questions of the minister such as whether he agreed. I think, with all due respect, that, 23 seconds in, he is being relevant to what was a question with a lengthy preamble and a number of questions at the end. But I am listening carefully. Senator Cormann.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let me reassure the chamber again: the Australian government is deeply committed to protecting the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. Of course, we understand and fully accept that climate change is a global issue and the most serious long-term threat to the health of coral reefs worldwide, including the Great Barrier Reef.

The centrepiece of Australia's reef protection effort is the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, jointly developed with the Queensland government. We are working with traditional owners, industry, scientists, farmers and the wider community to implement that plan. The Australian and Queensland governments are investing $2.7 billion between 2014-15 and 2023-24 to implement that plan. It's a plan that addresses the key threats to the reef by improving water quality and coastal habitats, tackling outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish, addressing plastics, and protecting threatened and migratory species—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whish-Wilson, on a point of order?

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I also asked what the government's prognosis would be for the future of the reef if we had a third bleaching in five years. The minister is yet to address that issue.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, I can't direct the minister to answer part of a question. Senator Cormann.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let me reassure Senator Whish-Wilson again: the Australian government is deeply committed to protecting the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. We are taking action together with the Queensland government and others to ensure that the Great Barrier Reef is in the best, strongest and healthiest position possible, and that is what we will continue to do. We look forward to your support for that very important work.

You'd of course also be aware that the Australian government has invested historic levels of funding, including a $443.3 million— (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whish-Wilson, a supplementary question?

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the minister mentioned that this is a World Heritage listed reef and that the biggest threat to the Barrier Reef is climate change—and I thank him for that acknowledgement—does he agree that when UNESCO meets in China in June they should consider the impacts of climate change on the values of the reef and whether the reef is in danger?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will let UNESCO make its decisions. We will make decisions as the Australian government. The decisions of the Australian government are focused on protecting the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef to the absolute best of our ability.

I was about to say, before my time ran out, that the historic level of funding that we are providing as a government includes a $443.3 million dollar Reef Trust partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The foundation's 2019-20 annual work plan allocates over $58 million for reef action, including controlling crown-of-thorns starfish and working with farmers to improve reef water quality. Again, let me reassure Senator Whish-Wilson that we are absolutely committed to doing everything we can to ensure the Great Barrier Reef is in the best possible position over the very long term.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whish-Wilson, a final supplementary question?

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, marine heatwaves are devastating not just the Great Barrier Reef but also the giant kelp forests off the east coast of Tasmania and seagrass beds in Shark Bay, Western Australia. We've seen mass fish kills around the Australian coastlines and around the world. Minister, given the impact of such a loss of habitat on marine life and our fisheries and fishing communities, how is this not a crisis, and are our oceans buggered?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask senators to try to maintain the dignity of the chamber with their use of language.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Not only would this government not use language like that in this chamber, but we are much more optimistic about the future. We think the future for our oceans is going to be so much brighter because of the actions we're pursuing as a government to support effective policies to improve the health of the oceans moving forward.