AU) ST It A A_, I
FOR MEDIA 4 JUNE 1979
PETROLEUM EXPLORATION IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF.
The Commonwealth Government has taken decisions on the question
of future petroleum exploration in the area of the Great Barrier
Reef. The Royal Commissions into exploratory and production drilling
for petroleum in the area of the Great Barrier Reef reported
in Novem. ber 1974. All Commissioners Sir Gordon Wallace,
the Chairman, Dr J. E. Smith, and Mr V. J. Moroney, the Members
agreed that drilling " should not be permitted on any cay, island,
or reef or national park or marine park when declared".
Bo: i Dr Smith and Mr Moroney considered that drilling could be
pem. itted in certain areas, provided recommended buffer zones
ana safety precautions were strictly applied and supervised.
Sir Gordon Wallace was of the view " that petroleum drilling
should be postponed, and be planned and permitted only in the
light, and with the aid, of full scientific knowledge of all the
effects of oil pollution direct and indirect, short and long-term,
on the coral and other marine life".
The Commonwealth Government has given detailed consideration to these
differing views and has decided that, in line with the recommendations
of the Chairman of the Royal Commissions, there should be no
further exploration for petroleum in the Great Barrier Reef Region
and that there should be no renewal of petroleum exploration
permits in the Region until the results of both short and longer
term research are known.
This decision will give positive effect to the categoric and
absolute guarantee I expressed in Parliament on 22 May when I
made it clear that The Government will not permit any drilling
on tFhe Great Barrier Reef, or any drilling or mining which could
damage the Reef.
On that occasion I indicated that AMSTAC the Australian Marine
Science and Technologies Advisory Committee had been asked by the
Government to submit advice to the Government on a programme of
research on the reef environment for consideration in the Budget
context. / 2
AMSTAC which is under the-Chairmanship of Professor Birch,
distinguished scientist is a standing Committee of the
Australian Science and Technology Council.
On 4 April this year, I wrote to Senator Webster, the Minister
for Science and the Environment, and suggested that the Minister
might present a submission to A4STAC on a possible programme of
research into the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef. As a
result of the Minister's submission, and on account of A1NSTAC's
own expert knowledge, proposals relating to the research programme
will shortly be available for consideration by the Government.
I am confident that the resulting research programme will do much to
minimize Australia's existing lack of knowledge with respect
to the ecosystem of the Reef.
An important feature of arrangements with respect to the
Reef is the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. This
body has the resp-ansibility of recommnending areas within the
Great Barrier Reef Region for declaration as parts of the
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
The Marine Park Authority, in its 1977-78 Annual Report
foreshadowed the possible declaration of the Capricornia
Section of the Great Barrier Reef Region as the first section
of the Great Barrier Reef Maine Park.
The Government aclknowledges that it has constitutional powers in
this area. It has been engaged in discussions with the Queensland
Go-Ternment against that background.
It desirable that the declaration of the Marine Park should
await the outcome of discussions with Queensland which flow from the
1978 Premiers' Conference agreement that the powers of the States
be extended to the territorial sea, including the sea-bed.
Because of the proximity of the Reef to the Queensland coast,
the question of appropriate jurisdiction over that national
asset is of obvious reli:-vance in that context. To this end,
I wrote to the Premier of Queensland on 19 December last year
and suggested that there should be consultation between our
respective Governments on development of the arrangements resulting
from the Premiers' Conference agreements and also the establishment
control, care and development of a Marine Park in the Great
Barrier Reef Region.
Consultations, both at the officials, and Ministerial level,
have taken place most recently in Sydney on 17 May and I am
confident of an early resolution of these complex questions.
I am hopeful that ai, early announcement can be made of the
declaration of the Capricorn Section of the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park.
The Government's attitude and position on these issues is clear:
the Government has stated repeatedly that it will not
permit any drilling on the Great Barrier Reef or any
mining or drilling which would damage the Reef.
Let there be no confusion on this point no part of the Reef
is going to be damaged by an activity that takes place on the
Reef cr off the Reef. .1.. 3
3
The Government has adopted the recommendations of the
Chairman of the Royal Commissions that petroleum drilling
should be postponed pending the receipt of the results of
short and longer-term research into the Reef
The Government has asked AMSTAC to recommend a programme
of research to the Government and will be considering
that recommendation in the Budget context
Discussions with Queensland on the inter-related questions
of the Premiers' Conference agreements on the extension of
State powers to the territorial seas and the management of the
Great Barrier Reef Region are at an advanced stage.