QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for the Environment and Water) (14:18): Thanks, Senator Whish-Wilson. I am glad that you had an opportunity to ask one last question before you depart the Senate. It has been a pleasure working with you in the years that we've both been here.

In answer to your question, I'm obviously well aware that the proposed gas development off the Western Australian coast, often referred to as the Browse project, is a controversial project. There are people in Australia who support that project. There are people in Australia who oppose that project.

I know very well, Senator Whish-Wilson, that you are one of the people who opposes this project. As is always the case when applications are made for environmental assessments and decisions under the federal EPBC Act, I will be applying the law of this country. That's what I will be taking into account.

Of course, the decision that always needs to be made is whether a particular project is likely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance. Your question, Senator Whish-Wilson, went to the recent application by the Australian Conservation Foundation for a reconsideration of an earlier decision regarding this matter. The figures that you quoted as to the number of submissions received on that are roughly about right.

I don't have the precise number, but it's roughly in the order that you referred to. What now needs to be decided is whether an additional matter of national environmental significance is likely to be impacted by this project. That decision will be made in accordance with the law and, when that decision is made, we'll have public announcements to make about that.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Whish-Wilson, first supplementary?