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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?

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