Environment and Communications References Committee

The same number of senators voted for and against the motion, which means it failed.

Motion text

That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 15 December 2021:

The health of the Great Barrier Reef, with specific regard to:

(a) the Government’s actions and motivations in opposing the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) scientific advice to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) to place the reef on the ‘In Danger’ list;

(b) the processes and criteria for ‘In Danger’ listing as per the UNESCO WHC rules and guidance;

(c) why the Great Barrier Reef is considered by the IUCN scientific committee to be ‘In Danger’;

*(d) the decision and actions of the Government in opposing the ‘In Danger’ listing,

including all ministerial travel and engagements, meetings with international counterparts, departmental expenditure and any other measures in doing so;*

*(e) the political, environmental, social and economic implications of an ‘In Danger’

listing for the Great Barrier Reef; and*

(f) any other matters.