Division Description Changes — Bills — Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023; Consideration of Senate Message — 7th Dec 2023

All changes made to the description and title of this division.

View division | Edit description

Change	Division
representatives vote 2023-12-07#2 Edited by mackay staff on 2024-04-26 16:35:25	Title Bills — Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023; Consideration of Senate Message Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 - Consideration of Senate Message - Unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration Description The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-12-07.18.1) to [Senate amendment (3)](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fsched%2Fr7013_sched_34d5e4e4-f193-41e9-bd4c-811f6b0d7b4c%22;rec=0). These amendments were introduced by Maranoa MP [David Littleproud](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/maranoa/david_littleproud) (Nationals). Mr Littleproud [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-12-07.18.15): > The Senate made amendments to the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 that addressed the EPBC and gas extraction. The Nationals and the Liberals believe that this is an opportune time to also pursue an opportunity to look at carbon capture, storage and sequestration, particularly on shore. At the moment, there is a development in my own electorate where a carbon capture and storage project will collect carbon from a coal-fired power station and inject it into the Precipice. That goes through the Great Artesian Basin, the biggest potable water source for this country. It services stock and domestic use right across the Great Artesian Basin. ### Amendment text > (1) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas development in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute: > >> unconventional gas development means any activity involving unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration that has, or is likely to have, a significant impact on water resources (including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity): >> >>> (a) in its own right; or >>> >>> (b) when considered with other developments, whether past, present or reasonably foreseeable developments. > > (2) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas production in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute: > >> unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration means extraction, recovery, injection, or intentional release, (whether by drilling, hydraulic fracturing or other means) of methane or carbon dioxide from or into: >> >>> (a) coal seams or beds; or >>> >>> (b) layers of shale rock; or >>> >>> (c) tight gas reservoirs; or >>> >>> (d) aquifers. >>> (d) aquifers.
representatives vote 2023-12-07#2 Edited by mackay staff on 2024-04-26 16:34:08	Title Description ~~<p class="speaker">Tanya Plibersek</p>~~ ~~<p>I move:</p>~~ The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-12-07.18.1) to [Senate amendment (3)](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fsched%2Fr7013_sched_34d5e4e4-f193-41e9-bd4c-811f6b0d7b4c%22;rec=0). These amendments were introduced by Maranoa MP [David Littleproud](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/maranoa/david_littleproud) (Nationals). Mr Littleproud [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-12-07.18.15): > The Senate made amendments to the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 that addressed the EPBC and gas extraction. The Nationals and the Liberals believe that this is an opportune time to also pursue an opportunity to look at carbon capture, storage and sequestration, particularly on shore. At the moment, there is a development in my own electorate where a carbon capture and storage project will collect carbon from a coal-fired power station and inject it into the Precipice. That goes through the Great Artesian Basin, the biggest potable water source for this country. It services stock and domestic use right across the Great Artesian Basin. ### Amendment text > (1) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas development in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute: > >> unconventional gas development means any activity involving unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration that has, or is likely to have, a significant impact on water resources (including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity): >> >>> (a) in its own right; or >>> >>> (b) when considered with other developments, whether past, present or reasonably foreseeable developments. > > (2) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas production in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute: > >> unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration means extraction, recovery, injection, or intentional release, (whether by drilling, hydraulic fracturing or other means) of methane or carbon dioxide from or into: >> >>> (a) coal seams or beds; or >>> >>> (b) layers of shale rock; or >>> >>> (c) tight gas reservoirs; or >>> >>> (d) aquifers. <p class="italic">That the amendments be agreed to.</p> <p>When Labor came to government, we promised to protect more of what's precious, restore more of what's damaged and manage nature better for our children and our grandchildren. Today the House has the chance to pass two more crucial environmental reforms. Firstly, this legislation establishes a new nature repair market in Australia, the first of its kind in the world. It is legislation that will encourage good environmental work, making it easier for businesses, philanthropists and other groups to invest in projects that protect and restore nature. Crucially, it will guard against the threat of greenwashing. This is not to replace government effort but to reinforce it. This means landholders, farmers and First Nations groups will be paid to improve nature on their properties. It will guarantee that the money invested does what it intends to do: restore habitats, improve our soil, eradicate feral species, protect our beaches and make our land more resilient to droughts and floods. The market will be strictly monitored by the Clean Energy Regulator to ensure full transparency and integrity in the system. This is part of Labor's mission to build a nature-positive Australia. We need effective national laws, we need active government investment and, wherever possible, we need the support of private money and philanthropists.</p> <p>Secondly, the Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023, with its amendments, will update the water trigger in our national environmental laws so that new unconventional gas projects will be assessed for their impact on water resources. Labor promised this change before the election and today we are delivering it. It's a commonsense reform providing businesses with certainty and the community with confidence that water resources are properly regulated and protected.</p> <p>I want to take a moment to thank the member for Lingiari. The member for Lingiari has fought passionately for this change for her community since not just her election to this place but long before. I'd also like to acknowledge the member for Mackellar. The member for Mackellar introduced a private member's bill on this subject earlier this year. Three expert reports over five years have recommended making this change. The water trigger already applies to coal seam gas, but now it will include types of unconventional gas such as shale gas and tight gas. Most new projects will be unaffected by the change as coal seam gas production is already covered by the existing water trigger and the changes do not apply to conventional gas production. Existing gas projects that are in production and have already been approved are also unaffected by this update. Projects regulated by NOPSEMA, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, are also unaffected by this update. This will provide certainty for business and ensure continuity of gas supply.</p> <p>Last week we passed our bill to rescue the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, and today we are, I hope, passing two more important pieces of environmental protection. I encourage all members of this House to support the bill and deliver more environmental protection in nine days than the previous government did in nine years.</p> ~~<p class="speaker">Milton Dick</p>~~ <p>The question is that the amendments be agreed to. For the benefit of the members of the House, I'm going to call the Leader of the Nationals. I understand he has amendments to these amendments. Under the standing orders, this is the time to move amendments to the Senate amendments. Moving forward, so all members understand the process—</p> ~~<p>The member for Wannon will cease interjecting.</p>~~ ~~<p>Honourable members interjecting—</p>~~ ~~<p>Order! The Leader of The Nationals definitely has the call.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">David Littleproud</p>~~ ~~<p>by leave—I move opposition amendments (1) and (2), circulated in my name, to Senate amendment (3) together:</p>~~ <p class="italic">(1) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of <i>unconventional gas development</i> in section 528 of the <i>Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999</i>), omit the definition, substitute:</p> <p class="italic"><i>unconventional gas development</i> means any activity involving unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration that has, or is likely to have, a significant impact on water resources (including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity):</p> ~~<p class="italic">(a) in its own right; or</p>~~ ~~<p class="italic">(b) when considered with other developments, whether past, present or reasonably foreseeable developments.</p>~~ <p class="italic">(2) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of <i>unconventional gas production</i> in section 528 of the <i>Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999</i>), omit the definition, substitute:</p> <p class="italic"><i>unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration</i> means extraction, recovery, injection, or intentional release, (whether by drilling, hydraulic fracturing or other means) of methane or carbon dioxide from or into:</p> ~~<p class="italic">(a) coal seams or beds; or</p>~~ ~~<p class="italic">(b) layers of shale rock; or</p>~~ ~~<p class="italic">(c) tight gas reservoirs; or</p>~~ ~~<p class="italic">(d) aquifers.</p>~~ <p>The coalition requests that it make a simple amendment to the amendments that it moved as a result of the bill passing through the Senate yesterday—the one around carbon sequestration. There was an amendment to the EPBC Act—</p> ~~<p class="speaker">Milton Dick</p>~~ <p>The Leader of The Nationals will pause. The minister for infrastructure and the member for Wannon will not be interjecting. No-one will interject during this process—trust me. The Leader of The Nationals has the call and will be heard in silence.</p> ~~<p class="speaker">David Littleproud</p>~~ <p>Mr Speaker, thank you. The Senate made amendments to the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 that addressed the EPBC and gas extraction. The Nationals and the Liberals believe that this is an opportune time to also pursue an opportunity to look at carbon capture, storage and sequestration, particularly on shore. At the moment, there is a development in my own electorate where a carbon capture and storage project will collect carbon from a coal-fired power station and inject it into the Precipice. That goes through the Great Artesian Basin, the biggest potable water source for this country. It services stock and domestic use right across the Great Artesian Basin.</p> <p>We obviously support carbon capture and storage, but it has to be in the appropriate place. The technology is emerging, and we support that technology, but it has to be done at an appropriate place where we have confidence in the approvals process. At the moment, the Queensland government will be the ones that will make that determination, and what we feel is that this is a national environmental asset that should also trigger the water trigger under the EPBC Act to ensure that proper approval processes are taking place and there is oversight by all levels of government, to give confidence to those primary producers and to our communities who rely on the Great Artesian Basin for their water supply. This is a commonsense solution to what is an emerging problem in understanding the science and the technology, which we do believe we should invest in. We don't walk away from the fact that carbon capture and storage will play a very important part in reducing our emissions, and we should continue to make those investments, as the Biden administration has, with over $1.2 billion worth of investment in reducing US emissions. But with that comes a responsibility for us as legislators to protect our environment, our way of life and Australian agriculture.</p> <p>Appreciating the size of the Great Artesian Basin, the sheer magnitude of the area which it covers and the reliance on it by agriculture and our communities means that it is beholden on us, not just for now but for the future, to protect these communities and to protect the environment for future generations. As the technology and science evolve, the opportunity for these companies to make these investments will continue to provide itself there. But, until that's proven on technology that is new to the world, particularly in this form in this model that is being proposed in south-west Queensland, it poses too many risks. As legislators, we should propose the precautionary principle to make sure that we make a sensible decision here in this parliament to protect our environment, protect these communities and make sure that we work with the science and the technology at a methodical pace that gives everyone confidence. This is the opportunity for this parliament today to give that confidence and greater investment confidence for carbon capture storage into the future, and to do that in harmony with Australian agriculture, our environment and particularly our communities.</p> <p>We believe that this is a sensible amendment that posed itself as an opportunity when there was an amendment in the Senate to the EPBC Act. We believe that acting responsibly in understanding the impact on the Great Artesian Basin and making sure that this legislation would give that protection of another lens of oversight would give confidence to our regional communities not just in my electorate but across the Great Artesian Basin that could be impacted by this. We think this is a sensible amendment that gives everyone confidence to move forward, that gives approval-process certainty and that gives the community certainty. I ask the House to accept this amendment as a commonsense approach to protecting our environment and nature.</p> ~~<p class="speaker">Tanya Plibersek</p>~~ <p>I want to thank the Leader of the Nationals for moving this amendment to the Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023. I really appreciate his concerns about the Great Artesian Basin. He is absolutely right in saying that this is a vital water resource for Australia and that it must be protected. I thank him for the intent of the amendment that he has moved.</p> <p>Given that the government have only just received notice of the amendment, we're not in a position to support it today, but I would say that we are very keen to work with the Leader of the Nationals on the intent of his amendment. Certainly, as we advance our reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act next year, I would be very pleased to work with him on making sure that we can give these assurances for the Great Artesian Basin, and more generally for the impact that carbon capture and storage would have on water resources.</p> <p>The intent behind expanding the water trigger, as we have done, is to ensure that new unconventional gas projects will be assessed on their impact on water resources. That has been a longstanding commitment of our government, and it's a very commonsense reform. It makes sure that coal seam gas is covered by the water trigger. Other types of unconventional gas were not really contemplated when the original water trigger was written. We're expanding the water trigger to cover those other types of unconventional gas. This has been recommended in a number of inquiries: the Northern Territory government's Pepper scientific inquiry, the 2018 Senate inquiry into water use by the extractive industry and the Senate inquiry into oil and gas exploration and production in the Beetaloo basin. All of these recommend that the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act water trigger be expanded to unconventional gas.</p> <p>As I say to the member for Maranoa, while we're not in a position to support this amendment today, I would be very happy to work with him next year as we further develop our EPBC reforms. That will give us the opportunity to consider the science and to work more broadly with industries, farmers and other affected people—the water users of the Great Artesian Basin—and make sure that we get any details of further amendments correct.</p> ~~<p class="speaker">Colin Boyce</p>~~ <p>I rise to make a contribution on the Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 and our further amendments that have been circulated. What we're proposing to do here is include 'carbon sequestration' in the unconventional gas development definition, and to add 'carbon dioxide into water aquifers' to give some protection around Australia's greatest underground water assets. These include the Great Artesian Basin.</p> <p>I've just heard the minister very piously say that she is protecting properly the water assets of Australia. Now, the minister knows very well that the current EPBC Act offers no protection whatsoever to the waters of the Great Artesian Basin in respect of carbon sequestration. That is because it is not deemed to be a coalmine or a gas operation. The minister knows this very well.</p> <p>As David Littleproud, the member for Maranoa, has pointed out, in Central Queensland at the moment there is a proposal to possibly pump hundreds of millions of tonnes of industrial waste into the Great Artesian Basin's waters. In their EIS statements, the proponent who is doing this has said that they will compromise the receiving ground water. They have also said that they cannot meet the current environmental protocols surrounding it, of the Queensland government, so they need those environmental authorities changed to be able to proceed.</p> ~~<p>The minister stood up there and said that she is protecting the underground waters. She is not, and the EPBC Act, as it currently reads, does not do this.</p>~~ <p>What we are asking here is to include carbon sequestration—the injection of carbon dioxide and these other things into the waters of the Great Artesian Basin, in particular—so as to give those waters some protection in respect of future developments. I urge you all to support these amendments—otherwise, you are just hypocrites.</p> ~~<p class='motion-notice motion-notice-truncated'>Long debate text truncated.</p>~~

Change

Division

representatives vote 2023-12-07#2

Edited by mackay staff

on 2024-04-26 16:35:25

Title

Bills — Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023; Consideration of Senate Message
Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 - Consideration of Senate Message - Unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration

Description

The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-12-07.18.1) to [Senate amendment (3)](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fsched%2Fr7013_sched_34d5e4e4-f193-41e9-bd4c-811f6b0d7b4c%22;rec=0). These amendments were introduced by Maranoa MP [David Littleproud](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/maranoa/david_littleproud) (Nationals).
Mr Littleproud [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-12-07.18.15):
> *The Senate made amendments to the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 that addressed the EPBC and gas extraction. The Nationals and the Liberals believe that this is an opportune time to also pursue an opportunity to look at carbon capture, storage and sequestration, particularly on shore. At the moment, there is a development in my own electorate where a carbon capture and storage project will collect carbon from a coal-fired power station and inject it into the Precipice. That goes through the Great Artesian Basin, the biggest potable water source for this country. It services stock and domestic use right across the Great Artesian Basin.*
### Amendment text
> *(1) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas development in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute:*
>
>> *unconventional gas development means any activity involving unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration that has, or is likely to have, a significant impact on water resources (including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity):*
>>
>>> *(a) in its own right; or*
>>>
>>> *(b) when considered with other developments, whether past, present or reasonably foreseeable developments.*
>
> *(2) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas production in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute:*
>
>> *unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration means extraction, recovery, injection, or intentional release, (whether by drilling, hydraulic fracturing or other means) of methane or carbon dioxide from or into:*
>>
>>> *(a) coal seams or beds; or*
>>>
>>> *(b) layers of shale rock; or*
>>>
>>> *(c) tight gas reservoirs; or*
>>>
>>> *(d) aquifers.*
>>> *(d) aquifers.*

representatives vote 2023-12-07#2

Edited by mackay staff

on 2024-04-26 16:34:08

Title

Description

~~Tanya Plibersek~~
~~I move:~~
The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-12-07.18.1) to [Senate amendment (3)](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fsched%2Fr7013_sched_34d5e4e4-f193-41e9-bd4c-811f6b0d7b4c%22;rec=0). These amendments were introduced by Maranoa MP [David Littleproud](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/maranoa/david_littleproud) (Nationals).
Mr Littleproud [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-12-07.18.15):
> *The Senate made amendments to the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 that addressed the EPBC and gas extraction. The Nationals and the Liberals believe that this is an opportune time to also pursue an opportunity to look at carbon capture, storage and sequestration, particularly on shore. At the moment, there is a development in my own electorate where a carbon capture and storage project will collect carbon from a coal-fired power station and inject it into the Precipice. That goes through the Great Artesian Basin, the biggest potable water source for this country. It services stock and domestic use right across the Great Artesian Basin.*
### Amendment text
> *(1) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas development in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute:*
>
>> *unconventional gas development means any activity involving unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration that has, or is likely to have, a significant impact on water resources (including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity):*
>>
>>> *(a) in its own right; or*
>>>
>>> *(b) when considered with other developments, whether past, present or reasonably foreseeable developments.*
>
> *(2) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas production in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute:*
>
>> *unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration means extraction, recovery, injection, or intentional release, (whether by drilling, hydraulic fracturing or other means) of methane or carbon dioxide from or into:*
>>
>>> *(a) coal seams or beds; or*
>>>
>>> *(b) layers of shale rock; or*
>>>
>>> *(c) tight gas reservoirs; or*
>>>
>>> *(d) aquifers.*
That the amendments be agreed to.
When Labor came to government, we promised to protect more of what's precious, restore more of what's damaged and manage nature better for our children and our grandchildren. Today the House has the chance to pass two more crucial environmental reforms. Firstly, this legislation establishes a new nature repair market in Australia, the first of its kind in the world. It is legislation that will encourage good environmental work, making it easier for businesses, philanthropists and other groups to invest in projects that protect and restore nature. Crucially, it will guard against the threat of greenwashing. This is not to replace government effort but to reinforce it. This means landholders, farmers and First Nations groups will be paid to improve nature on their properties. It will guarantee that the money invested does what it intends to do: restore habitats, improve our soil, eradicate feral species, protect our beaches and make our land more resilient to droughts and floods. The market will be strictly monitored by the Clean Energy Regulator to ensure full transparency and integrity in the system. This is part of Labor's mission to build a nature-positive Australia. We need effective national laws, we need active government investment and, wherever possible, we need the support of private money and philanthropists.
Secondly, the Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023, with its amendments, will update the water trigger in our national environmental laws so that new unconventional gas projects will be assessed for their impact on water resources. Labor promised this change before the election and today we are delivering it. It's a commonsense reform providing businesses with certainty and the community with confidence that water resources are properly regulated and protected.
I want to take a moment to thank the member for Lingiari. The member for Lingiari has fought passionately for this change for her community since not just her election to this place but long before. I'd also like to acknowledge the member for Mackellar. The member for Mackellar introduced a private member's bill on this subject earlier this year. Three expert reports over five years have recommended making this change. The water trigger already applies to coal seam gas, but now it will include types of unconventional gas such as shale gas and tight gas. Most new projects will be unaffected by the change as coal seam gas production is already covered by the existing water trigger and the changes do not apply to conventional gas production. Existing gas projects that are in production and have already been approved are also unaffected by this update. Projects regulated by NOPSEMA, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, are also unaffected by this update. This will provide certainty for business and ensure continuity of gas supply.
Last week we passed our bill to rescue the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, and today we are, I hope, passing two more important pieces of environmental protection. I encourage all members of this House to support the bill and deliver more environmental protection in nine days than the previous government did in nine years.
~~Milton Dick~~
The question is that the amendments be agreed to. For the benefit of the members of the House, I'm going to call the Leader of the Nationals. I understand he has amendments to these amendments. Under the standing orders, this is the time to move amendments to the Senate amendments. Moving forward, so all members understand the process—
~~The member for Wannon will cease interjecting.~~
~~Honourable members interjecting—~~
~~Order! The Leader of The Nationals definitely has the call.~~
~~David Littleproud~~
~~by leave—I move opposition amendments (1) and (2), circulated in my name, to Senate amendment (3) together:~~
(1) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas development in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute:
unconventional gas development means any activity involving unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration that has, or is likely to have, a significant impact on water resources (including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity):
~~(a) in its own right; or~~
~~(b) when considered with other developments, whether past, present or reasonably foreseeable developments.~~
(2) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas production in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute:
unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration means extraction, recovery, injection, or intentional release, (whether by drilling, hydraulic fracturing or other means) of methane or carbon dioxide from or into:
~~(a) coal seams or beds; or~~
~~(b) layers of shale rock; or~~
~~(c) tight gas reservoirs; or~~
~~(d) aquifers.~~
The coalition requests that it make a simple amendment to the amendments that it moved as a result of the bill passing through the Senate yesterday—the one around carbon sequestration. There was an amendment to the EPBC Act—
~~Milton Dick~~
The Leader of The Nationals will pause. The minister for infrastructure and the member for Wannon will not be interjecting. No-one will interject during this process—trust me. The Leader of The Nationals has the call and will be heard in silence.
~~David Littleproud~~
Mr Speaker, thank you. The Senate made amendments to the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 that addressed the EPBC and gas extraction. The Nationals and the Liberals believe that this is an opportune time to also pursue an opportunity to look at carbon capture, storage and sequestration, particularly on shore. At the moment, there is a development in my own electorate where a carbon capture and storage project will collect carbon from a coal-fired power station and inject it into the Precipice. That goes through the Great Artesian Basin, the biggest potable water source for this country. It services stock and domestic use right across the Great Artesian Basin.
We obviously support carbon capture and storage, but it has to be in the appropriate place. The technology is emerging, and we support that technology, but it has to be done at an appropriate place where we have confidence in the approvals process. At the moment, the Queensland government will be the ones that will make that determination, and what we feel is that this is a national environmental asset that should also trigger the water trigger under the EPBC Act to ensure that proper approval processes are taking place and there is oversight by all levels of government, to give confidence to those primary producers and to our communities who rely on the Great Artesian Basin for their water supply. This is a commonsense solution to what is an emerging problem in understanding the science and the technology, which we do believe we should invest in. We don't walk away from the fact that carbon capture and storage will play a very important part in reducing our emissions, and we should continue to make those investments, as the Biden administration has, with over $1.2 billion worth of investment in reducing US emissions. But with that comes a responsibility for us as legislators to protect our environment, our way of life and Australian agriculture.
Appreciating the size of the Great Artesian Basin, the sheer magnitude of the area which it covers and the reliance on it by agriculture and our communities means that it is beholden on us, not just for now but for the future, to protect these communities and to protect the environment for future generations. As the technology and science evolve, the opportunity for these companies to make these investments will continue to provide itself there. But, until that's proven on technology that is new to the world, particularly in this form in this model that is being proposed in south-west Queensland, it poses too many risks. As legislators, we should propose the precautionary principle to make sure that we make a sensible decision here in this parliament to protect our environment, protect these communities and make sure that we work with the science and the technology at a methodical pace that gives everyone confidence. This is the opportunity for this parliament today to give that confidence and greater investment confidence for carbon capture storage into the future, and to do that in harmony with Australian agriculture, our environment and particularly our communities.
We believe that this is a sensible amendment that posed itself as an opportunity when there was an amendment in the Senate to the EPBC Act. We believe that acting responsibly in understanding the impact on the Great Artesian Basin and making sure that this legislation would give that protection of another lens of oversight would give confidence to our regional communities not just in my electorate but across the Great Artesian Basin that could be impacted by this. We think this is a sensible amendment that gives everyone confidence to move forward, that gives approval-process certainty and that gives the community certainty. I ask the House to accept this amendment as a commonsense approach to protecting our environment and nature.
~~Tanya Plibersek~~
I want to thank the Leader of the Nationals for moving this amendment to the Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023. I really appreciate his concerns about the Great Artesian Basin. He is absolutely right in saying that this is a vital water resource for Australia and that it must be protected. I thank him for the intent of the amendment that he has moved.
Given that the government have only just received notice of the amendment, we're not in a position to support it today, but I would say that we are very keen to work with the Leader of the Nationals on the intent of his amendment. Certainly, as we advance our reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act next year, I would be very pleased to work with him on making sure that we can give these assurances for the Great Artesian Basin, and more generally for the impact that carbon capture and storage would have on water resources.
The intent behind expanding the water trigger, as we have done, is to ensure that new unconventional gas projects will be assessed on their impact on water resources. That has been a longstanding commitment of our government, and it's a very commonsense reform. It makes sure that coal seam gas is covered by the water trigger. Other types of unconventional gas were not really contemplated when the original water trigger was written. We're expanding the water trigger to cover those other types of unconventional gas. This has been recommended in a number of inquiries: the Northern Territory government's Pepper scientific inquiry, the 2018 Senate inquiry into water use by the extractive industry and the Senate inquiry into oil and gas exploration and production in the Beetaloo basin. All of these recommend that the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act water trigger be expanded to unconventional gas.
As I say to the member for Maranoa, while we're not in a position to support this amendment today, I would be very happy to work with him next year as we further develop our EPBC reforms. That will give us the opportunity to consider the science and to work more broadly with industries, farmers and other affected people—the water users of the Great Artesian Basin—and make sure that we get any details of further amendments correct.
~~Colin Boyce~~
I rise to make a contribution on the Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 and our further amendments that have been circulated. What we're proposing to do here is include 'carbon sequestration' in the unconventional gas development definition, and to add 'carbon dioxide into water aquifers' to give some protection around Australia's greatest underground water assets. These include the Great Artesian Basin.
I've just heard the minister very piously say that she is protecting properly the water assets of Australia. Now, the minister knows very well that the current EPBC Act offers no protection whatsoever to the waters of the Great Artesian Basin in respect of carbon sequestration. That is because it is not deemed to be a coalmine or a gas operation. The minister knows this very well.
As David Littleproud, the member for Maranoa, has pointed out, in Central Queensland at the moment there is a proposal to possibly pump hundreds of millions of tonnes of industrial waste into the Great Artesian Basin's waters. In their EIS statements, the proponent who is doing this has said that they will compromise the receiving ground water. They have also said that they cannot meet the current environmental protocols surrounding it, of the Queensland government, so they need those environmental authorities changed to be able to proceed.
~~The minister stood up there and said that she is protecting the underground waters. She is not, and the EPBC Act, as it currently reads, does not do this.~~
What we are asking here is to include carbon sequestration—the injection of carbon dioxide and these other things into the waters of the Great Artesian Basin, in particular—so as to give those waters some protection in respect of future developments. I urge you all to support these amendments—otherwise, you are just hypocrites.
~~Long debate text truncated.~~