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senate vote 2017-06-19#5

Edited by mackay staff

on 2017-07-02 05:17:21

Title

  • Motions Mining
  • Motions - Mining - Adani's Carmichael mine

Description

  • <p class="speaker">Larissa Waters</p>
  • <p>I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 356 standing in my name for today relating to the Adani Carmichael coalmine.</p>
  • <p>Leave granted.</p>
  • The majority voted against a motion that, among other things, called for a review of [Adani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adani_Group)'s approvals for the [Carmichael mine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmichael_coal_mine) under the [Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environment_Protection_and_Biodiversity_Conservation_Act_1999). It also wanted to strengthen the environmental history test under that Act, which lets the Minister consider the proponent's environmental history when deciding to grant approval (in this case, the proponent would be Adani, which has had a [chequered environmental history](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-10/adani-boss-failed-to-disclose-link-to-african-pollution-disaster/7012554)).
  • ### Motion text
  • > *That the Senate call on the Federal Government to:*
  • > *(a) Add a 'suitable person' test on [Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility](https://industry.gov.au/industry/Northern-Australia-Infrastructure-Facility/Pages/default.aspx);*
  • > *(b) strengthen the environmental history test under the [Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environment_Protection_and_Biodiversity_Conservation_Act_1999); and*
  • > *(c) review Adani’s approvals for the Carmichael mine under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.*
  • <p>I move the motion as amended:</p>
  • <p class="italic">That the Senate call on the Federal Government to:</p>
  • <p class="italic">(a) Add a 'suitable person' test on Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility;</p>
  • <p class="italic">(b) strengthen the environmental history test under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; and</p>
  • <p class="italic">(c) review Adani&#8217;s approvals for the Carmichael mine under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">James McGrath</p>
  • <p>I seek leave to make a short statement.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Sue Lines</p>
  • <p>Leave is granted for one minute.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">James McGrath</p>
  • <p>The northern Australia investment act 2016 and investment mandate already require reputational consideration when assessing any funding application. Australia's national environmental laws, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 already represent a strong approach to environmental protection and enable the minister to have regard to the environmental history of a proponent when making decisions related to approval. Processes, including the courts, which are well used by green activists, already exist and are frequently used in our well-explored review processes.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Sue Lines</p>
  • <p>The question is that the motion as amended and moved by Senator Waters be agreed to.</p>