17th Jun 2015, 3:50 PM – Senate Motions - Environmental Conservation - Commend the Government

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by Queensland Senator Barry O'Sullivan (National Party), which means it succeeded. Motions like these don't have any legal force, but they are politically influential since they represent the will of the Senate.

Motion text

That the Senate welcomes:

(a) the recognition by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre of the important work undertaken by this Government which recommended against the Great Barrier Reef being listed as 'in danger';

(b) the announcement by the Minister for the Environment (Mr Hunt) of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, a testament to the close working relationship enjoyed by successive Commonwealth and Queensland governments in protecting the reef;

(c) the additional $200 million of funding from the Australian and Queensland governments for water quality; and

(d) the Minister for the Environment's historic permanent ban on the disposal of capital dredge material in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, as a sign of this Government's commitment to protecting this natural asset.