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Thursday, 31 May 1979

Senator CARRICK (New South WalesMinister for Education) - I am grateful to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Senator Button) for putting before me the circumstances. I apologise that I was not present at the time. As I said, I was at a Cabinet meeting. The matter now rests upon whether, in replying today, yesterday or at any time to a question on the Capricornia section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park I reiterated certain matters that misled the Senate. I did misrepresent the Deputy Leader of the Opposition this morning and have indicated that in terms of a misunderstanding. Incidentally, I make it clear that the note that was passed to me by Senator Webster was, in fact, a copy of the letter from the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) to Senator Webster in which the Prime Minister indicated that the only barrier standing in the way of the marine park being declared was a constitutional one. That was the content of the note, lest anyone feels that it had any surreptitious matters in it.

In responding to Senator Button, I assumed- of course, I regret it- that there had been some misunderstanding of Mr Newman's question. I am bound to say that 1 have looked at his question and answer and what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition said is correct. Mr Newman did reply 'yes' to both questions. Before I advert to what Mr Newman has now said, I want to say that never at any time, wittingly or otherwise, have I misled the Senate on this matter. I make that perfectly clear. What I have said has been said as my best and my sincere understanding- indeed, my full understanding after a great deal of searching as to what is the policy of the Government and what are the essential core policies of the Government.

After this incident today and at lunch time I rechecked that matter, and nothing that I have discovered has in any way made me change from the situation that what I have said to this Senate is my clear understanding of what is the policy of the Government. That policy includes the fact that the Capricornia section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is near to declaration as a national park and that fundamentally the discussions between the two governments relate to the constitutional matters. That is my complete understanding. Let me say that I would be perfectly willing if I had felt that I had inadvertently misled the Senate, to say so. I do not believe that to be the case. So that we can put this matter in perspective, Mr Newman in another place has made a statement.

Senator Tate - It was a personal explanation. He would not make a statement because it would have given the Leader of the Opposition a chance to reply.

Senator CARRICK - I will read the statement of what happened in another place and, of course, invite debate on the matter. Let us have no doubt that I hope we will agree upon a reasonable time for debate on this matter. My understanding is that the text of the statement of Mr Newman is as follows:

I have referred to Mr Newman's statement in another place. Let me simply say this to the Senate: When I come here, representing the Prime Minister in this place, I seek from him and from other relevant people what is the policy. The Prime Minister has made it very clear, as he has in Cabinet, that he will give an unqualified assurance that there will be no drilling on the reef and that no action will be taken that will in any way damage it. That is the stated policy. Honourable senators will recall that yesterday I pointed out that the Government's key policy would be the pursuit of long term research from which we would learn the nature of the ecosystem and something of its management. Only then would we be able to know what could be done in areas from tourism to fishing in terms of the long term management of the reef.

I repeat what is in my mind at this moment. Yes, permits were in existence but they were inactive and not being activated. Those permits were not matters of a critical nature which related to our decisions. The decisions were ones for discussion between the two governments. We recognised our pre-eminent constitutional responsibility and powers and said that we would act accordingly. On the information available to me I was able to say that great progress appeared to have been made on the Capricornia section and that that ought to emerge as a declared section of the national park. Upon rechecking with the Government I am advised that what I said is the policy of the Government.

Senator Georges - Mr President,I take it that we are debating the motion that Standing Orders be suspended.

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