Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Watt. Woodside's proposed Browse gas project would release 1.6 billion tonnes of climate pollution over its lifetime, the equivalent of four years of Australia's total current emissions. It's the carbon bomb to feed the North West Shelf and would threaten the pristine Scott Reef, pygmy blue whales and green turtles. New carbon attribution evidence shows that these emissions will directly contribute to mass coral bleaching events that each kill up to 30 million coral communities on the Great Barrier Reef. The evidence is clear: it doesn't matter where the gas is burned. The impact of climate change on nature must be considered. Minister, will you listen and commit to properly assessing Browse's massive climate impacts on our precious Great Barrier Reef?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Waters, for the question. As Senator Waters would be well aware, this project is currently subject to assessment under the federal EPBC Act, just as it is currently under assessment under Western Australian law. The project is right now being assessed by the Western Australian EPA and also by my department, soon to become the EPA on 1 July when, for the very first time in Australia's history, we will have a national EPA as a result of the Albanese Labor government's environmental reforms. The project is in the final EPBC decision stage awaiting regulatory advice and information from NOPSEMA and additional information from the proponent.

As a final decision has not been made on this project, it would not be appropriate to comment further. I am surprised that Senator Waters is asking me to express an opinion on the future of this project. She does remind us from time to time that she is a former environmental lawyer, and, on that basis, it would be a strange decision for a minister of the day to express an opinion on a project that is currently under assessment. That is a sure-fire way to make sure that the decision that is ultimately made is challenged in the courts, and I have every intention of complying with Australian environmental law when I conduct this assessment and approval decision.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Waters, first supplementary?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

Next month, the World Heritage Committee will be considering whether to include the Great Barrier Reef on the in danger list. Climate change is the biggest threat to the reef yet. This government has approved 36 fossil fuel projects and is now considering whether to add Browse to that list. People are watching what you, as environment minister, do and whether you choose to protect the reef or approve more oil, coal and gas. Which is it going to be?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

I think we've all become familiar with the binary world that the Greens Party live in where you can only do one thing or the other. You can do one thing or the other. What this government has said consistently is that we will always assess individual projects on their merits, and this government has a record of finding ways to support economic development while protecting the environment. We've done that repeatedly when it comes to individual project decisions, and that was, of course, the guiding principle that sat behind our EPBC reforms, which were about delivering stronger environmental protections and faster and simpler decisions. That is, of course, a principle that the Greens Party supported in agreeing to pass those reforms at the end of last year.

Now, Senator Waters and her Greens colleagues do like to focus on coal and gas projects and what happens with them in terms of decisions. What they always fail to mention is that this government has approved over 140 renewable energy projects since coming to office, and we intend to approve a lot more than that. (Time expired)

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

This week, 10 Australians lodged a complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee, arguing that by approving massive fossil fuel projects, failing to consider climate impacts and exporting our pollution, the Labor government is breaching international human rights obligations. When will the government finally take its climate responsibilities seriously and stop approving massive climate wrecking fossil fuel projects?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course Australian citizens are entitled to make those types of applications if they choose to. What the Australian government will do is comply with Australian law. And that's what we're doing in relation to the projects that Senator Waters has raised, as we have done with every single project that has been considered by me as minister or by my predecessors as environment minister. In the previous question, Senator Waters also raised the status of the Great Barrier Reef. We've certainly been working very hard over the last few months to put before the World Heritage Committee the evidence that demonstrates that the Great Barrier Reef is the best managed coral reef anywhere in the world.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

It's why we have expended so much investment on the Great Barrier Reef since coming to power. It's why we've worked very hard with the Queensland government.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Whish-Wilson!

Senator Whish-Wilson, I called order twice. I called your name and you still showed such disrespect towards me. Listen in silence or leave the chamber.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

We've been very pleased to put before the World Heritage Committee the evidence about what we're doing to protect and restore the reef, including the recent changes we made in the EPBC reforms. (Time expired)