Senator MILNE (1:09 PM) —I ask the government to respond to some of the issues that I raised in the second reading debate. Firstly, has the April 2005 deadline been met in terms of phasing out all category 1 single-hull tankers and have they been refused entry to Australian ports since that time? Secondly, I would like to ask the government whether they have considered moving forward the phase-out to this year, given that they have already, presumably, accepted the phase-out to April 2005 of category 1.

I would like to have the government’s view on where they are up to in considering these matters, especially as the Great Barrier Reef is so incredibly fragile and especially as it is under even more pressure than ever because of global warming and the bleaching and so on of the corals. It is important for the Australian community to know what action the government is taking in relation to the MARPOL convention, particularly in relation to this matter. It is important that we know what the government is thinking about and whether it is prepared, in the light of the expression of support for the principle of my second reading amendment given by the Labor Party—and I am sure that I speak for Greens senators as well—to move forward in this matter. The nature of the government’s bill demonstrates its concern about pollution and increasing the capacity to deal with that pollution, and I welcome that. But I would really like to know whether the government is actively considering bringing forward the date from 2010, and what impediment there would be to doing what I am asking and bringing it forward to December 2005 for category 2 and 3 tankers.