Page 294 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 December 2016
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Mr Hanson interjecting—
MR RATTENBURY: that we tell the federal government and other jurisdictions—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, that is three interjections in the first 45 seconds. Can you let the minister continue?
MR RATTENBURY: It is important that we record our opposition to the mine, that we tell the federal government and other jurisdictions that the ACT does not support this major decision that will have such a significant and detrimental impact on climate change in this country.
If built, Carmichael will be one of the biggest coal mines in the world and the biggest in Australia. It will be 28,000 hectares, seven times the area of Sydney Harbour. To put this in a local perspective, the mine is so large it would cover Canberra entirely, from north to south.
If it becomes operational, the mine will send 60 million tonnes of black coal every year to the appropriately-named Abbot Point coal terminal, which is located right on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. From there the coal will ship to India to be burnt in coal-fired power plants.
With all that we know about climate change and the devastating impacts it will have on the planet, on Australia and on us here in Canberra, it is irresponsible and unconscionable to support the Carmichael coal mine project. The science is clear about the path we need to take to mitigate the looming, harmful impacts of climate change.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
Mr Gentleman: Point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Gentleman on a point of order.
Mr Gentleman: Madam Speaker, you have warned Mr Hanson. He continues to interject during the minister’s speech. I ask you to bring him to order.
MADAM SPEAKER: He does, indeed. He does have a habit of that. Mr Hanson, please let the minister continue and finish in silence.
MR RATTENBURY: I am sorry it is so distressing for Mr Hanson to talk about these issues that impact on all of us. But perhaps if he listens he might learn something about the very real impacts this mine will have on the global ecosystem.
The world has agreed on an upper limit of global warming that is two degrees Celsius on pre-industrial temperatures. Since the industrial revolution we have already raised the global temperature by close to one degree.
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