The Hon Tony Abbott MP Parliament House Canberra ACT November 2013

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1 The Hon Tony Abbott MP Parliament House Canberra ACT November 2013 Call for public inquiry: Protection of Queensland s World Heritage Values, biodiversity and water resources Dear Prime Minister, We write regarding a suite of proposals we believe are likely to have significant national impacts on matters of national environmental significance currently under the direct control of the Australian Government. These proposals are associated with the mining of largely undisturbed coal and gas resources of Queensland s Galilee Basin, which is likely to have significant impacts on the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Artesian Basin, the Burdekin Catchment, the Desert Uplands bioregion, Bimblebox Nature Refuge and our global climate. We understand that there are currently approximately ten proposals under your Government s consideration related to development of the Galilee Basin s resources, including those within the assessment processes associated with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). These include, but may not be limited to, EPBC referrals 2008/4648, 2008/4468, 2009/5033, 2009/4734, 2010/5496, 2010/5736, 2012/6240, 2012/6322, 2012/6489, and 2013/6885. You are undoubtedly aware that elements of these proposals are also under consideration by Queensland s Coordinator General. The combination of the proposed mines, ports, railways and power stations will result in the industrialisation of a large portion of central Queensland where the biodiversity is already greatly under-reserved. The projects will have a significant detrimental impact on World Heritage properties, National Heritage places, Ramsar wetlands, Listed threatened species and communities, Listed migratory species, Commonwealth marine areas and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The proposed mining projects will destroy 8000 ha Bimblebox Nature Refuge, famous

2 for its rich biodiversity and a perfect example of the Desert Uplands ecosystems at their best, only 5% of which are held in conservation reserves. Among the native species reported to date on Bimblebox are more than 275 plants, at least 150 birds, 16 mammals, 27 reptiles and 3 frogs. A number of these species are threatened or of high conservation significance. We noted with interest the recent announcement by the Australian Government s Minister for the Environment that the Australian Government is moving to streamline environmental assessment processes, and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Queensland that allows the Australian Government to maintain strategic oversight to ensure that environmental standards are maintained. Considering the context of the number and scope of developments proposed for the Galilee Basin, we believe the current piecemeal approach to assessment is likely to undermine the Australian Government s intentions in this area. Because there have been no studies of the cumulative impacts of all the proposed mining projects, we fear that your Four Pillars are likely to experience a severe case of dry rot before they are even erected. Even with the benefit of intergovernmental cooperation, separate element-by-element assessment cannot meet the need for a comprehensive assessment of the combined and cumulative impacts of the large-scale industrialisation of a significant part of central Queensland. There are a number of avenues open to your Government to look more closely and thoroughly at the ramifications of the proposed development of this globally-significant coal deposit. As part of the Australian Government s role to provide strategic oversight, we encourage you to consider the implications of the current proposals for the Strategic Assessments currently underway for the Great Barrier Reef and the Great Artesian Basin, and in particular the benefits of undertaking a broader public inquiry. In Minister Hunt s Four Pillar Environment Policy, the Clean Water policy includes a commitment to the Murray Darling Plan, Water Security and the Reef 2050 plan. The absence of a commitment to our groundwater and the Great Artesian

3 Gladstone Conservation Council Basin is of great concern. We raise this point with you as we recognise positive relationships and long term sustainability of the agricultural sector will be a priority for your government. Our concern is held by rural communities that seek to ensure farming and grazing enterprise do not suffer the consequences of a severely depleted watertable as a result of coal mining, not to mention guarantee that the quality of our water will not be adversely affected by mining activities. The Howard Government implemented the National Plan for water security in 2008 which was not implemented correctly by the subsequent government. Now is your chance, with the water trigger, to assess water impacts properly. The information currently available suggests that the Australian Government has already made a decision to assess the China First mine, railway and port expansion (EPBC referral number 2009/4737) through environmental impact assessment under Division 6 of the EPBC Act, and that the proponent has published a draft EIS under section 103 to satisfy the requirements of S90(1) of the EPBC Act. It appears that in progressing the China First proposal, the Australian Government s Minister for the Environment, therefore, has an opportunity to assess this proposal through a public inquiry. Such an inquiry is bound to reassure the World Heritage Committee that Australia s governments are acting to manage pressures for new port developments along the Reef coastline and thereby avoid the highly embarrassing listing of the Great Barrier Reef as World Heritage in danger in February By approaching the development of the Galilee Basin through a broader public inquiry all the discrete assessments and impacts associated with the Galilee Basin will be brought together, allow for more effective public engagement and involvement in the assessment of the large-scale development, and ensure that the Australian Government s commitment to maintaining environmental standards is achieved in a transparent and enduring manner. If your government doesn t consider a public inquiry is appropriate in this matter, we would welcome your advice on how you intend to assess the cumulative impacts of these proposals on

4 Australia s terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, coastal and marine environments, the likely impact on global carbon emissions, and how you intend to ensure all stakeholders are provided with adequate avenues to contribute to decision-makers. Thank you for your attention to this important issue. We would very much welcome the opportunity to meet with you, and your Minister for Environment, Greg Hunt MP, to discuss your approach to this important issue of national significance. Yours sincerely, Patricia Julien, Coordinator, Mackay Conservation Group (MCG) (07) ; coordinator.mcgmail@bigpond.com Allan Briggs, Secretary, Birdlife Capricornia Amanda Cahill, Director, Centre for Social Change Anne Page, President, Logan and Albert Conservation Association (LACA) Denice Campbell, Leader, Galilee Basin Alliance (GBA) Derec Davies, Coordinator, Friends of the Earth (FOE) Des Boyland, Policies and Campaigns, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (WPSQ) Drew Hutton, President, Lock the Gate Alliance (LTGA) Jan Arens, President, Gladstone Conservation Council (GCC) Judith Hoyle, President, Birdlife Southern Queensland (BSQ) Lee Curtis, Coordinator, Protect the Bush Alliance (PTBA) Michael McCabe, Coordinator, Capricorn Conservation Council (CCC) Michelle Maloney, Convenor, Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA)

5 Paola Cassoni, Co-Owner, Bimblebox Nature Refuge Paul Donatiu, Executive Coordinator, National Parks Association Queensland (NPAQ) Peter Arndt, Executive Officer, Catholic Justice & Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Brisbane (CJPCB) Peter Serov, Director, Stygoecologia Rae Clark, Secretary, Birds Queensland Roger Currie, President/ Water Policy Officer, Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council (WBBEC) Ronda Green, Chair, Wildlife Tourism Australia (WTA) Samantha Vine, Head of Conservation, Birdlife Tim Seelig, State Campaign Manager, The Wilderness Society (TWS) Toby Hutcheon, Executive, Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) Wendy Tubman, Coordinator, North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC) Zaida Variava, Representative, Moreton Bay Eco Alliance (MBEA) CC: Bill Shorten Shadow PM Hon Greg Hunt Minister for Environment Hon Mark Butler Shadow Minister for the Environment & Climate Change Hon Ian McFarlane Minister for Industry Hon Kim Carr Shadow Minister for Industry Christine Milne Australian Greens Leader Larissa Waters Greens Senator for Queensland H.E. Sheika Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Al-Thani (Qatar) Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, Chairperson