QUEENSLAND BROADCAST NO.
THE ENVIRONMENT MAY 1975
ON FRIDAY I ANNOUNCED A MOST IMPORTANT
DECISION BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE PROTECTION
OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF. THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEFORE IT
THE REPORT OF ROYAL COMMISSIONS WHICH WERE APPOINTED,
YOU'LL REMEMBER, IN 1970 TO CONSIDER THE PROBLEM
OF OIL DRILLING ON THE REEF. THAT REPORT MADE IT CLEAR
THAT WE ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE DARK SCIENTIFICALLY
SPEAKING ABOUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF OIL ON
THE REEF AND ITS ORGANISMS. I DON'T WANT TO OVERSIMPLIFY
WHAT ARE REALLY COMPLEX MATTERS,, BUT IT'S FAIR TO SAY
THAT THERE IS. STILL ROOM FOR DOUBT ABOUT THE DEGREE OF
RISK WHICH OIL DRILLING WOULD POSE. Two OF THE THREE
ROYAL COMMISSIONERS FELT THAT WITH CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS
AND PRECAUTIONS, DRILLING COULD BE SAFELY PERMITTED IN
CERTAIN AREAS AROUND THE REEF, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INQUIRY,
MR JUSTICE WALLACE, FELT THAT THIS WOULD BE TOO GREAT
A RISK TO TAKE, HIs OPINION WAS THAT NO DRILLING AT ALL
SHOULD BE ALLOWED NEAR THE REEF UNTIL WE DISCOVER MORE
ABOUT ITS LONG-TERM SCIENTIFIC EFFECTS. THE GOVERNMENT
CONSIDERED ALL THESE VIEWS, WE DECIDED ON FRIDAY THAT
WITH A NATURAL ASSET AS PRICELESS AS THE REEF, WE WOULD
NOT BE JUSTIFIED IN TAKING ANY CHANCES. WE ACCEPTED
THE MORE STRINGENT VIEW. OF THE COMMISSION'S CHAIRMAN. WE
HAVE THEREFORE DECIDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO DRILLING IN
THE AREA OF THE REEF UNTIL MORE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IS
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FOR US, THE PRESERVATION OF THE REEF IS PARAMOUNT
I HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN TO MR BJELKE-PETERSEN EXPLAINING
OUR DECISION IT WAS CERTAINLY TIME FOR SUCH'DECISIVE
ACTION. I DON'T NEED TO REMIND YOU OF THE LONG HISTORY
OF WRANGLING BY OTHER GOVERNMENTS WHICH LED UP TO OUR
DECISION. IT STARTED FIVE YEARS AGO, WHEN MR GORTON
WAS PRIME MINISTERS HE TOO WAS CONCERNED ABOUT OIL
DRILLING ON-THE REEF DRILLING PERMITTED AND
ENCOURAGED BY THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT. IT WAS MR
GORTON'S AGITATION AND I GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR IT
WHICH LED TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSIONS
BY THE QUEENSLAND AND AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS, BUT MR
GORTON WASN'T JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE REEF. HE TOOK THE
WIDER-VIEW SUPPORTED BY MY PARTY THAT ALL OFF-SHORE
AREAS, THE WHOLE CONTINENTAL SHELF AROUND AUSTRALIA, WAS
THE PROPER RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT,
NOT THE STATES. e/ 3
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THE REASONS FOR THIS ARE SIMPLE ENOUGH:
THE OFF-SHORE AREAS LIE OUTSIDE OUR LAND BORDERS; THEIR
DEFINITION INVOLVES QUESTIONS OF FOREIGN RELATIONS;
AND MOST OFF-SHORE ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS MINING AND MINERAL
EXPLORATION, AFFECT NOT ONLY THE ENVIRONMENT BUT OUR
TRADE AS A NATIONS So THE GORTON GOVERNMENT IN
APRIL 1970 BROUGHT IN LEGISLATION TO BRING THESE AREAS
UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT, WELL,
THERE WAS A GREAT HOWL FROM THE MINING INTERESTS AND
STATE-RiGHTERS, AND MR GORTON'S SENSIBLE MEASURE WAS PUT
IN COLD STORAGE. THE LIBERALS IN CANBERRA. WENT TO WATER.
WHEN WE CAME IN WE REINTRODUCED THE LEGISLATION; THE
QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT PROMPTLY CHALLENGED IT IN THE HIGH
COURT, WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE COURT'S JUDGMENT. THAT'S
FAIR ENOUGH; BUT MR BJELKE-PETERSEN HAS BEEN USING HIS
COURT CHALLENGE TO TRY AND HOLD UP ANOTHER POSITIVE
MEASURE TO PROTECT THE BARRIER REEF. WE WON'T GO ALONG
WITH THOSE TACTICS. THIS WEEK, IN THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT, WE
INTRODUCED A BILL TO CREATE A GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE
PARK. IT'S A MAGNIFICENT SCHEME; IT WILL ENSURE THAT THIS
SUPERB AREA,* THIS UNIQUE PART OF AUSTRALIA'S NATURAL
HERITAGE, WILL BE SAFEGUARDED FOR ALL TIME. WE TOLD THE
QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT THAT WE WOULDN'T ALLOW THEIR COURT
CHALLENGE TO DELAY THE BILL, WE SAID WE WOULD PREFER TO
COOPERATE IN A JOINT AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER THE MARINE
PARK WITH QUEENSLAND, BUT IF THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT
WOULDN'T COOPERATE WE WOULD GO AHEAD ON OUR OWN, ONCE
AGAIN, THE FUTURE OF THE REEF WAS PARAMOUNT TO US.
THOSE ARE JUST TWO OF THE INITIATIVES
WE HAVE TAKEN TO SAFEGUARD THE ENVIRONMENTS THEY ARE
AREAS IN WHICH WE HAVE CLEAR CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS, OR
ARE CONVINCED OF OUR POWERS. WHERE WE HAVE THE POWER WE
HAVE ACTED PROMPTLY1 WE HAVE POWER IN THE TERRITORIESAND
IT'IS IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY THAT MOST OF OUR
URANIUM IS MINED. HERE WE HAVE IMPOSED STRICT
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS ON URANIUM MINING BEFORE IT
STARTS1 AND HAVE APPROVED FULL LAND RIGHTS FOR THE
ABORIGINAL PEOPLE. WE ALSO HAVE POWER OVER-THE
EXPORT OF-MINERALS, WHEREVER THEY ARE MINED. THE PREVIOUS
GOVERNMENT REALLY ONLY CONCERNED ITSELF WITH THE
EXPORT OF. URANIUM AND IRON ORE. ONE OF OUR FIRST ACTS
AS A GOVERNMENT WAS TO ASSUME-FULL CONTROL OVER THE
EXPORT OF AU.. MINERALS. WE DID THIS FOR A NUMBER OF
REASONS NOT JUST ENVIRONMENTAL ONES -AND ONE RESULTO
THANKS LARGELY TO THE WORK OF REX CONNOR AND HIS
DEPARTMENT, HAS BEEN TO QUADRUPLE THE EARNINGS FROM THE
EXPORT OF QUEENSLAND COALS
WHEN IT COMES TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
WITHIN~ THE STATES, WE HAVE SOUGHT RESULTS BY AGREEMENT
WITH THE STATES OR BY BRINGING IN LEGISLATION WHICH THE
STATES AGREE TO SUPPORT. THAT'S NO EASY TASK. AWAY
BACK IN APRIL 1973 MORE THAN TWO YEARS'AGOIFIRST
WROTE TO THE PREMIERS SEEKING THEIR COOPERATION
IN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT WHENEVER THEY REQUESTED
FEDERAL FUNDS FOR STATE GOVERNMENT PROJECTS. IN
JANUARY LAST YEAR 16 MONTH -S AGO WWR OTE AGAIN TO THE
PREMIERS$ I SUGGESTED A PREMIERS' CONFERENCE, WE
WANTED SOME PROCEDURE FOR JOINT ENVIRONMENTAL INQUIRIES
BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES. IT'S
SURELY ABSURD TO HAVE TWO INQUIRIES INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT OF A* PROJECT WHEN ONE WILL DO, THE RESPONSE FROM
THE STATES WAS FRANKLY DISAPPOINTING1 BUT THAT DIDN'T
STOP ME FROM ACTING ON AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT PROJECTS
WHICH FALL WITHIN OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY. ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT INQUIRIES HAVE BEEN STANDARD PRACTICE FOR THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR. S,
LEGISLATION. TO MAKE THESE PROCEDURES COMPULSORY WAS
PASSED IN DECEMBER, FROM NOW ON, EVERY PROJECT AFFECTING
THE ENVIRONMENT WHETHER MINING1 BUILDING, OR
DEVELOPMENT WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE MOST SEARCHING
SCRUTINYS
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IT'S ONLY WHEN WE GET THESE MATTERS INTO
PROPER PERSPECTIVE THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT
HAPPENED WITH FRASER ISLAND. LET ME BE QUITE CLEAR
ABOUT THIS: NOTHING WE DO CAN STOP THE MINING ON
FRASER ISLAND. THE MOST WE CAN HOPE TO DO IS PREVENT
THE EXPORT OF MINERALS THAT ARE ALREADY MINED, THE
QUESTION WAS WHETHER WE COULD DO THAT LEGALLYOR
HONOURABLY. DON'T IMAGINE THAT THIS PROBLEM
SUDDENLY TOOK THE GOVERNMENT BY SURPRISE A COUPLE
OF WEEKS AGOi ALMOST A YEAR AGO, MY MINISTERS,
wMR CONNOR AND DR CASS AGREED -AND I ACCEPTED THEIR
ADVICE -THAT WHEREVER POSSIBLE THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD.-USE ITS POWERS OVER MINERAL EXPORTS TO
DISCOURAGE MINING OPERATIONS WHICH COULD DAMA GE THE
ENVIRONMENT. ONCE AGAIN IT WAS ON 9 JULY LAST
YEAR -IWROTE TO THE PREMIERS POI NTIN G OUT OUR
CONCERN, AND STRESSING THAT ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS
WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN FUTURE APPLICATIONS
FOR MINERAL EXPORTS WERE CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
MR BJELKE-PETERSEN TOOK SIX MONTHS TO REPLYo AND THERE
IS STILL NO AGREED PROCEDURE ON THE NECESSARY.
ENVIRONMENTAL INQUIRIES. a17
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I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THAT MINING HAS BEEN
GOING ON ON FRASER ISLAND FOR YEARS, THE PRESENT
MINING LEASES WEREN T APPROVED BY US THEY WERE
APPROVED YEARS AGO BY MR BJELKE-PETERSEN HIMSELF.
THAT'S ONE REASON WHY THERE HASN T BEEN A WORD OF
CRITICISM BY THE LIBERALS OR THE COUNTRY PARTY OF THE
MINING ON FRASER ISLAND. WHEN WE CAME TO OFFICE THE
MINING COMPANIES ALREADY HAD THEIR LEASES; THEY HAD
ENTERED INTO FIRM CONTRACTS, AND THEY HAD THE RESULTS
OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL INQUIRY BY THE QUEENSLAND
GOVERNMENT WHICH GAVE ITS BLESSING TO THE SCHEME, SUBJECT
TO PRETTY STRINGENTSAFEGUARDS. THE WHOLEOPERATION WAS
PERFECTLY LEGAL. SOME SAY WE COULD STOP THE EXPORT
OF MINERALS NOW BY MAKING ' OUR LEGISLATION
RETROSPECTIVE, BY SAYING " THIS RULE WON'T JUST APPLY
IN FUTURE, WE RE GOING TO APPLY IT TO PAST CASES AS WELL$
-WE'RE GOING TO KNOCK OUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH
OF MINERAL CONTRACTS ALREADY MADE IN GOOD FAITH."
WE WEREN'T PREPARED TO DO IT$ WHAT WE ARE DOING IS
MAKING. SURE THAT FROM NOW ON, ALL FUTURE MINING OPERATIONS
WILL BE CAREFULLY STUDIED FOR THEIR EFFECT. ON THE
ENVIRONMENT. DR CASS HAS ANNOUNCED A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL
INQUIRY INTO THE WHOLE FUTURE OF FRASER ISLAND TO HOLD
THE LINE AGAINST ANY FUTURE DAMAGE.
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WE HAVE ACHIEVED GREAT THINGS ON THE
ENVIRONMENT AND YOU CAN BE SURE WE WILL PRESS ON
WITH OUR PROGRAM AS VIGOROUSLY AS EVER. THAT
PROGRAM WILL MOVE AHEAD MORE QUICKLY WITH A
LITTLE LESS HYPOCRISY FROM THOSE WHO DID NOTHING,
DURING 23 YEARS IN GOVERNMENT, TO PROTECT OUR
NATURAL HERITAGE.
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