Press Conference, Parliament House

MURRAY WATT, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER: Thanks very much for coming along today on what is another terrific day for Australia and the world's natural environment. I'm joined today by a number of my Labor colleagues who've taken a very great interest in this issue as well, but also by representatives from the World Wide Fund for Nature and Ocean Decade Australia who are available for comment as well.

Today will be the day that the Australian Parliament will pass the High Seas Biodiversity Bill. This is the day that has been coming for many years and I pay tribute to the many members of government and conservation organisations who have been fighting for today and the passage of this Bill for many years. Australia is very proud of our position as a world leader when it comes to ocean conservation, and under the Albanese Government we've taken a number of steps to even improve that record by committing, for example, to protect 30% of our ocean by 2030.

We're also part of an international effort to protect 30% of the world's ocean by 2030, but there is a long way to go to achieving that global target, and the passage of this Bill, along with the ratification of a treaty by dozens of other nations, is a big step towards achieving that global target. The reason it matters for the world's ocean, and for all of us, that we protect 30% of the world's ocean, is that the scientific consensus is that if we can protect 30% of the world's ocean from mining, from fishing, from drilling, from other extractive industries, then that's the sweet spot to make sure that marine life can prosper well into the future.

So, it's actually in the interest of all of us, even outside the 30% that is ultimately protected, to have those areas that are protected to sustain marine life right across the world's ocean. But at the moment, even though 60% of the world's ocean is in the high seas, outside national boundaries, only 1% of that is protected. So that gives you some idea of the scale of the work that is required to reach that 30% target.

Australia was one of the first countries in the world to sign the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty a couple of years ago. But we're also one of the only countries in the world that needs to pass legislation in order to ratify a treaty, and that's what will be happening today when this Bill passes the House of Representatives, as it will later this evening. So, as I say, this is a terrific day towards greater conservation of our ocean, we know that as Australians we have a very strong link to the ocean.

Well over 90% of Australians live within 50 kilometres of our ocean and, of course, we rely on a healthy ocean to support healthy life in general and there are many industries and jobs that rely on a healthy ocean as well. So, the more we can be doing to work with the rest of the world to protect the high seas outside our national maritime boundaries, that is good news for marine life and its good news for the human race as well.

I'll hand over to Dermot O'Gorman from WWF and then we'll hear from Jas Chambers from Ocean Decade Australia. DERMOT O’GORMAN, CEO WWF: Good afternoon. Today is a historic day for the oceans with the ability for Australia to now pass this legislation to join the High Seas Treaty.

As David Attenborough said in his recent ocean films, “If we save the seas, we save the [world].” And so the decades-long effort by the Australian Government and Parliament, and an agreement by the Parliament today to pass this legislation, I think reflects the commitment that Australia has to protecting its own oceans, but also to be working with other nations and in the high seas to protect a vast amount of this blue planet.

So, I wanted to congratulate the Albanese Government, thank the Parliament for passing these Bills. But, of course, the hard work starts now. And so, we'd like to see implementation of the High Seas Treaty and to see marine protected areas put in place in those high seas around the world by governments collaborating together, working with industry, working with NGOs, working with scientists, and working with First Nations to be able to protect our vital seas.

JAS CHAMBERS, CHAIR AND CO-FOUNDER OCEAN DECADE AUSTRALIA: Similarly, we congratulate this Parliament for this legislation going through, protecting the ocean at 30%, as the Minister has noted, is an important first step in ensuring that we have ocean resources for the future. In Australia, the ocean is part of our national identity. It's worth remembering that the ocean is only 3.7 kilometres deep on average, which is roughly from this place to the middle of the city of Canberra.

So, it's not very far away, and yet it produces so much for us. It is the lungs of the planet, it's our pantry, and it is our cooling system. So, understanding the link between ocean and climate is critical.

So, we again congratulate the Government on getting this legislation through. Thank you. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.