RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...
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31 Oct 2012 Questions Without Notice 2255<br />
The India trade mission will also coincide with the Australian government’s OzFest initiative,<br />
which is designed to celebrate and promote Australia as a contemporary, creative and diverse nation.<br />
Therefore, the mission will convey the <strong>Queensland</strong> government’s commitment to India as a trade<br />
partner and reinforce <strong>Queensland</strong>’s image in India as a leading source of education and training<br />
services, mining equipment and technologies and associated services.<br />
Trade and investment missions are an essential strategy in the government’s objective of getting<br />
the <strong>Queensland</strong> economy back on track. They are invaluable in helping us maintain and strengthen<br />
<strong>Queensland</strong>’s relationships and reputation in the international arena. The government will continue to<br />
pursue trade opportunities across the globe to open up new markets for <strong>Queensland</strong> business and<br />
industry.<br />
Great Barrier Reef<br />
Hon. JW SEENEY (Callide—LNP) (Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development,<br />
Infrastructure and Planning) (2.27 pm): Our government has committed to working with the federal<br />
government to undertake a strategic assessment of the Great Barrier Reef coastal region as a basis for<br />
a streamlined bilateral approvals process. Part of the strategic assessment is the development of a<br />
ports strategy. Today, I table a draft Great Barrier Reef ports strategy that will be available for public<br />
consultation and public comment from tomorrow. The strategy presents the vision and principles that will<br />
guide our government’s approach to future port development and our planning in the Great Barrier Reef<br />
coastal region for the next decade.<br />
Tabled paper: Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning: Great Barrier Reef Ports Strategy 2012-2022 for<br />
public consultation, October 2012 [1451].<br />
Port development is essential for the growth of <strong>Queensland</strong>’s economy, but so too is the<br />
protection and health of our greatest environmental asset, the Great Barrier Reef. Through this strategy<br />
the government will balance environmental protection with the need to facilitate economic prosperity.<br />
Put simply, our ports must expand if we are to prosper and grow as a state. We are part of a global<br />
economy and our ports connect us to the world.<br />
The ports adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area are among the world’s busiest<br />
and most productive, and their effective operation underpins the growth of <strong>Queensland</strong>’s four-pillar<br />
economy. However, at the same time the Great Barrier Reef remains the most protected and one of the<br />
best managed marine areas in the world. This government will ensure that continues to be the case.<br />
This strategy is part of our plan to develop the ports we need and protect the Great Barrier Reef at the<br />
same time. I point out that this government has already scaled back the unrealistic expansion proposals<br />
of the previous government for Abbot Point, taking the proposed multicargo facility and the proposed<br />
coal terminals 4 to 9 completely off the table.<br />
Today I can announce that, under the strategy that I have just tabled, we will restrict significant<br />
port developments within and adjoining the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area to within existing<br />
port limits for the next 10 years. We will facilitate the expansion within those port precincts. We will<br />
facilitate the development of terminals 0, 2 and 3 at Abbot Point. New coal terminals are mooted at<br />
Dudgeon Point in the port of Hay Point. Within the Gladstone precinct, expansion is an ongoing constant<br />
for both existing exports and imports and the future of the LNG industry. Balaclava Island, Port Alma and<br />
Sea Hill all provide scope to serve ongoing resource development.<br />
Fewer bigger port areas will mean less disruption to our environment and better protection for<br />
areas outside these existing port facilities. <strong>Queensland</strong> has well-established processes to measure and<br />
manage environmental impacts of port development and we will ensure that shipping through the Great<br />
Barrier Reef region is also highly regulated. <strong>Queensland</strong>ers can be assured that this government will<br />
successfully manage the balance between economic development and environmental protection.<br />
ABSENCE <strong>OF</strong> MINISTER<br />
Mr STEVENS (Mermaid Beach—LNP) (Manager of Government Business) (2.29 pm): I wish to<br />
advise the House that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice will be absent during question time<br />
today. Minister Bleijie is attending a family member’s funeral in Gympie.<br />
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE<br />
Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts<br />
Ms PALASZCZUK (2.30 pm): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier outline to the<br />
House how many meetings, briefings, dinners or lunches the Minister for Science, Information<br />
Technology, Innovation and the Arts has attended with Santo Santoro since taking up her portfolio in<br />
April?