Senator McLUCAS (4:05 PM) —I move:

I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The speech read as follows—

It is a great honour and privilege to, on behalf of the Australian Labor Party and the people of Queensland co-sponsor this bill in the Senate. I note that the Labor Shadow Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mr Kelvin Thomson introduced this bill into the House of Representatives on the 10th February 2003.

The intent of this legislation, is to once and for all protect the Great Barrier Reef from oil prospecting and, ultimately, oil drilling. Extending the boundaries of the Great Barrier Reef Region to include all waters east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Area to the boundary of Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will achieve this. These are areas currently under threat from oil exploration and drilling. TGS-NOPEC, a multi national oil exploration company is seeking approval to undertake seismic testing in the Townsville Trough, only 50 km from the boundary of the Marine Park.

It is important to note that under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, the Great Barrier Reef Region and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Area exist as separate entities. It should also be noted that mining, and petroleum drilling are not permitted in any part of the Great Barrier Reef Region, under the Great Barrier Reef Region (Prohibition of Mining) Regulations 1999. The extension of the Great Barrier Reef Region boundary will therefore protect the whole area from oil exploration and drilling. It is extremely important to note that the adoption of this legislation will have no other effect than ruling out oil prospecting and, subsequently, drilling—no effect on any fishing, commercial or recreational interests, and no effect on visitation, whether it be private or through tourist operators.

Labor took a policy to the last Federal election that would have effectively ruled out oil drilling and exploration under the current TGS-NOPEC application. This private senator's bill gives effect to that commitment. This legislation will rule out threats to the Great Barrier Reef from all off shore mining forever.

It is particularly pleasing, then, to be supporting this legislation, given the government's lack of desire to protect the Great Barrier Reef. We have been calling for the government to think laterally, to think differently and to try a little harder to develop a method to protect the reef from oil drilling. The Environment Minister, Dr Kemp and his predecessors however have done everything possible to avoid taking action to protect the reef from oil exploration and exploitation. Can I suggest to the Minister, Dr Kemp that this is his chance? This is his real chance to do something to outlaw oil drilling on or near the Great Barrier Reef.

It is clear that oil drilling is precluded within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This legislation deals with the area between the eastern boundary of the marine park and the Exclusive Economic Zone, and that point needs to be made clear. That is where enormous prospectivity exists, and that is where damage could occur to the reef unless something is done to manage it. As I said before, Dr Kemp can legally make a decision to prevent exploration in the Townsville Trough region, which is in that area between the eastern boundary and the EEZ. He can support this legislation in the House of Representatives and then we will have ruled out oil prospecting and drilling, and protected the reef, I believe, for all time.

Labor has consistently opposed oil prospecting and drilling on or near the Great Barrier Reef. We have pursued the issue consistently since TGS-NOPEC expressed its interest in exploration rights. At the last election, Labor's policy entitled “Caring for the Great Barrier Reef” included these words:

To preserve the health of the reef, Labor will:

Prohibit all mineral, oil and gas exploration and operations in Australian waters offshore of the Great Barrier Reef.

On April 16 2002, in Townsville, Labor's leader, Mr Simon Crean, reaffirmed Labor's commitment to protect Australia's greatest natural tourism asset—the Great Barrier Reef—from two devastating environmental threats by banning oil drilling and exploration both on and off the reef, and ratifying the Kyoto Protocol to tackle the disastrous impacts climate change would have on the reef. That commitment from the Labor Party is testimony to the ongoing desire that Labor has to protect the reef both from oil drilling and climate change.

The Australian Labor Party recognises the intrinsic values of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most significant listings on the World Heritage register. There are not many other icons in the world that have that level of significance. It is the international icon of all coral reef systems. It is the largest listing on the World Heritage register, listed in 1981. The listing of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park area on the register complies with all four Natural Heritage criteria: geological phenomena; ecological and biological processes; asthetics and natural beauty; and biological diversity, including natural processes.

As well as these natural values, the Great Barrier Reef has enormous social and economic values. It is impossible to put a value on the time one spends with family or friends in places like the Great Barrier Reef. There will be many people all over the world who have cherished memories of their time visiting the Reef. Recreational experiences like snorkelling, diving, recreational fishing and boating will hold lasting memories for millions of people around the world. The education values that flow from the Reef are also enormous. Social values, by their very nature, are not easy to quantify, but it is important in any assessment of such a wonderful icon that we do not overlook these values.

Economic values are easier to quantify. The value of the Great Barrier Reef is estimated to be in the order of $1.5 billion annually to the state of Queensland. Well over half of this value is from the tourism industry with more than 2 million visitors travelling to the Reef every year. In employment terms, the Great Barrier Reef is vital to the ongoing economic health of Queensland. There are workers in the tourism, fishing and associated industries and in hotels, tackle shops, restaurants and on tour desks—the list goes on. There are an enormous number of workers who depend on the viability and sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef for their jobs.

Tourism is an industry dependent on perceptions. Oilrigs, even 50 kilometres from the Marine Park boundary, do not promote a perception to potential visitors of a pristine ecosystem that is valued by its community and by its government.

The tourism industry is opposed to oil exploration or drilling. Stephen Gregg, Tourism Queensland's Chief Executive Officer has said that Queensland tourism operators want to see a permanent ban on exploration or any potentially harmful activities anywhere near the Reef.

The seafood industry has similar views. John Olsen, President of the Queensland Seafood Industry Association, formerly the Queensland Commercial Fishermen's Association, has said, “It would be ridiculous for the Federal Government to give the go ahead for a seismic survey— that is, the seismic survey required for the EIA— that if oil was discovered, would inevitably lead to full-scale drilling”.

Mr Olsen can work it out. Why can't the Government? Guy Lane, an environmental scientist, has said that if they find petroleum reserves in the Townsville Trough, “It'll create this enormous political and economic vacuum and there'll be great pressure to start drilling. It really should be nipped in the bud at this stage”. Don Henry, Executive Director of the Australian Conservation Foundation agrees. He said “It is a disastrous ecological accident waiting to happen if it is approved”, adding that, “the Reef is worth more via tourism than any oil field”.

The Queensland Government supports these calls to ban oil exploration or drilling on or near the Great Barrier Reef.

I can't understand how the Howard Government can be prepared to jeopardise the Great Barrier Reef's values—the social values, the economic values and the environmental values. Industry leaders and the broader community can see the sense in protecting the reef from oil exploration and drilling, so why can't this Government.

The history of oil and the Great Barrier Reef is a long one. I do not intend to give a complete chronology today of those interactions, but it is true to say that in 1968 Mr Joh Bjelke-Petersen, the then Premier of Queensland, issued 16 licences to prospect for oil in the waters east of Queensland. In 1970, two companies, Ampol and Japex, postponed drilling near Whitsunday Island after significant opposition from the community. In 1974, a Royal Commission into oil drilling on the Great Barrier Reef concluded. The commissioners were split on whether oil drilling should be allowed on the Great Barrier Reef. In 1981, the coalition government passed the Act opening the Coral Sea to oil drilling. The government claimed that it would not allow oil drilling within 30 miles of the Great Barrier Reef. In 1990, oil exploration adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef was again proposed. The then Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke quickly quashed this proposal.

I was disappointed then to find that the current Environment Minister, Dr Kemp trying to rewrite history in a media release of the 10th February 2003 suggesting that Labor was in fact proposing oil exploration back in 1990. It just goes to show how little he knows about the history of proposals to drill for oil on or near the Reef.

I think the current Environment Minister has much in common with the Liberal Shadow Environment Minister of the time, Fred Chaney, which just goes to show how progressive the Liberal Party is on issues like the environment.

The then Liberal Shadow Environment Minister, Fred Chaney, said on ABC radio:

“I'm certainly in favour of continued oil exploration in prospective areas just as I'm firmly of the view that we make sure the Great Barrier Reef is protected”.

I would have said to Senator Chaney—although I was not here then—and I do say now: you can't have your cake and eat it too. Fortunately, then Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke intervened to stop oil exploration. The current Prime Minister should do as the then Prime Minister, Mr Hawke did and rule out oil drilling and exploration adjacent to the Reef.

It is becoming increasingly clear that this Liberal Government is seriously considering allowing oil exploration and drilling adjacent to the Reef. We have TGS-NOPEC seeking approval to undertake seismic testing in the Townsville Trough just 50km from the Marine Park boundary and this Government is doing nothing.

The Labor Party though is not going to sit by and allow this Government to place at risk the environmental, economic and social values of the Great Barrier Reef. The position that we need to establish is that we, as a nation and as a community, are not prepared to compromise the values of the Great Barrier Reef—not at all, not in any way. Oil prospecting and drilling on or near coral reefs and the sustainability of those coral reefs are conflicting notions.

The ongoing desire of the oil industry to explore in areas adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef such as the Townsville Trough is not going to be averted until clear direction by government is established. This legislation provides the Coalition with a sensible and practical mechanism that has no cost to Government to provide that direction—to rule out oil exploration and mining for good and I invite the Government to take up this opportunity.

Senator McLUCAS —I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.