Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The government did not oppose the motion. We are committed to the long-term protection of the Great Barrier Reef. The greatest risks to the Great Barrier Reef have not changed since the first outlook report in 2009. Climate change, poor water quality from land-based run-off, impacts from coastal development and some remaining impacts of fishing and illegal fishing remain the major threats to the reef. On coming to government, there were five major proposals for dredge spoil from capital port projects to be disposed of in the marine park which Labor and the Greens had on the drawing board. That has now been cut to one project at Abbot Point—and that has been reduced from 38 million cubic metres to three million. This includes a 150 per cent net benefit requirement for water quality. The Minister for the Environment's clear intention in making the Abbot Point decision was that the first priority for all future capital dredging projects within the Central Queensland and North Queensland coastal zone will be for shoreline, near-to-shore or land reclamation disposal. Therefore, the preferred disposal option for capital dredging is onshore, in accordance with legislative requirements.