E&OE….
Topics: Great Barrier Reef, Home Insulation Program
CHRIS SMITH:
Greg Hunt, the Federal Environment Minister, is on the line right now. Minister, good morning.
GREG HUNT:
Good morning, how are you?
CHRIS SMITH:
I'm very well. You would be very happy with this final UNESCO decision, I would imagine?
GREG HUNT:
Look I am obviously delighted, I think for Australia and for the communities that live up and down the Reef. I'm in Germany at the moment, and only a few hours ago UNESCO, so the global umpire in this space, considered the case of the Reef – it was put on the watch list and on track to being in danger under the previous government – and unanimously and overwhelmingly the 21 members voted not to put the Reef on the ‘in danger’ list.
And each member praised Australia, and essentially the chair of the conference, the German Minister Maria Bohmer, said that Australia had become a role model for managing the Great Barrier Reef, and other countries should follow our lead. So it's a tremendous vindication for Australia, and a tremendous outcome for our future. And it says that what we're doing to manage the Reef is really something that the rest of the world can look to.
CHRIS SMITH:
But so often we hear from Green politicians in this country talking about some of the damage we've done, the bleaching of corals, the heating of the sea because of global warming, or as they say climate change, and various impacts on the Reef including mining, which is affecting reefs closer to the shore, it's a terrible pallor situation, we're going to lose our Great Barrier Reef. So what you're saying is UNESCO has basically gotten beyond the barking and found the truth?
GREG HUNT:
Exactly. Look, these are the world's technical experts. People who know the World Heritage Committee, and there are 21 nations on it, say that it is incredibly apolitical. And that means that you've got technical experts, through the convention this week they've been making tough judgements on many countries and many properties on the World Heritage list, and there are just over 1000. And then they came to Australia, it was under pretty strong criticism during the life of the previous government for the way in which it had been managed in regards to the Reef.
And the strongest previous critics, starting with the Portuguese Ambassador who said he had previously been very critical, stood up and said we are now delighted – Australia is leading the world, is a role model, and what's actually happening with the physical management of the Reef is outstanding.
Of course, wherever there is human engagement there will be challenges, but what we're doing in reducing sediment and nitrogen and pesticides, and tackling the Crown of Thorns head-on, in banning forever dredge disposal in the Marine Park, these things have been identified by the world and they say – hey this country has listened, it's got it right, and the rest of the world should look at them. So to those that are the critics, I think the umpire has spoken.
CHRIS SMITH:
You mentioned a few of what- or a few of the measures that you're employing and are doing to improve the health of the Barrier Reef, just a little bit further detail on that Minister. The Crown of Thorns, you're saying you're meeting it head-on, what is going on in terms of eradicating the crown-of-thorns from those northern waters?
GREG HUNT:
So two big things. One is reducing nitrogen runoff into the Great Barrier Reef, and that's because it provides a breeding environment, nitrogen is just a good environment for the Crown of Thorns to breed in. Nitrogen runoff is down 16 per cent, but we've set a target of 80 per cent and we're investing $200 million in water quality programs to help do that.
Secondly, we're also directly targeting the Crown of Thorns with a new single-shot eradication, where divers go down, they find the large concentrations and they're having remarkable success in hitting high concentrations near the high-value reefs. And that's protecting these really significant reefs. It doesn't all the problems, so you've got to attack it from both sides.
CHRIS SMITH:
It's a big task.
GREG HUNT:
But other countries now want help from Australia in managing Crown of Thorns in their reefs in the South Pacific and in Southeast Asia.
CHRIS SMITH:
Sounds like a big task.
GREG HUNT:
Oh, look, it is. It's a massive challenge. And the Crown of Thorns comes and goes in cycles, but if you take away the nitrogen, which traditionally would come down the creeks and the rivers, and the farmers are being tremendous partners in this, then you really lay the foundation for a long-term solution. And in the meantime, attacking the large concentrations directly.
It's a single shot made with cattle salt. So it's completely benign in a marine environment, but it's utterly toxic for the Crown of Thorns. So one shot and then they literally curl up and die. We've put $10 million into getting extra divers out in the field and they are just killing hundreds of thousands and I hope that number will rise to millions where they represent a threat to some of the ribbon reefs, to the really magnificent reefs of the GBR.
CHRIS SMITH:
Okay. The Mortein of the Barrier Reef. On the Home Insulation Scheme, Pink Batts.
GREG HUNT:
Yeah.
CHRIS SMITH:
I thought we'd been over all of this. But anyway, the flawed Home Insulation Scheme introduced by that other flawed entity, the Labor Government under Kevin Rudd. The scheme was crook, but apparently your Government is being accused of being crook as well.
In August 2013 when you were in Opposition you went to Brisbane, went to a factory owned by a bloke called Matthew Hannam, he's saying the design of the compensation scheme is hopeless, he fears he'll get nothing, and yet he lost millions. How does that work out and surely we're not going to bungle this again, are we?
GREG HUNT:
Sure. Look I obviously take that very seriously. That side of it isn't mine, it's currently being managed and indeed right now Ian Macfarlane is calling for submissions by small businesses. I know that we have six months ago, because I was taking care of that- the other side of it, compensated all of the families who lost loved ones. That compensation of course will never ever replace the loss they've received, but it in some small way allows them to move forward and…
CHRIS SMITH:
But will he ever, ever get hold of it?
GREG HUNT:
…very fast.
CHRIS SMITH:
But will he ever, ever get hold of it?
GREG HUNT:
Well, each of the families has been compensated. Right now I know that Ian Macfarlane is leading a process, they have advertisements calling for compensation. I will speak with Ian Macfarlane's office, ask them to contact Mr Hannam, but to be fair they have a very significant program for compensation, they're calling for…
CHRIS SMITH:
Someone in Ian Macfarlane's office is telling a different story to them, and these are the people that you used …
GREG HUNT:
Well I'm not sure that’s necessarily…
CHRIS SMITH:
… to say that you would help them with compensation, and now they're turning on you. They're not turning on you for nothing.
GREG HUNT:
Well I take it very seriously. As you know, I've lived and breathed the Home Insulation Program, we helped compensate the families as I say, six months ago effectively, quickly and it never replaces but it does make some – it does provide a chance for them to move forward…
CHRIS SMITH:
So will you make significant …
GREG HUNT:
That's underway now.
CHRIS SMITH:
… representation on their behalf to Ian Macfarlane?
GREG HUNT:
Look I will speak with his office today. And I believe that they will be in contact. I can't guarantee the outcome of any particular compensation application, but I know that they will be in contact.
CHRIS SMITH:
Okay. Because the crux of this is the fact that Ian Macfarlane's Department is apparently running the scheme with assessments by accountants from Deloitte’s. So, no retired judge or no mediator, assessments by accountants from Deloitte’s.
Installers have been asked to send detailed financial information to a Deloitte division in India, and this Mr Hanger, this fellow that has been employed to do this, has been hired by Macfarlane to give advice. There'll be no independent mediation. That's not what was promised in the first place.
GREG HUNT:
Well I actually think that Ian Hanger has a very significant role. He was the Royal Commissioner. We worked with him and he directly negotiated with all of the families, and…
CHRIS SMITH:
But giving advice and mediating is two different things.
GREG HUNT:
Well I'll let Ian Macfarlane as Minister speak about that. But my understanding is that Ian Hanger has a much more hands-on role than may have been understood. So, we'll be in direct contact with them.
CHRIS SMITH:
Alright. Well we'll keep in contact with you and your office, yeah, and see how this pans out.
GREG HUNT:
I think it's important, and immensely important…
CHRIS SMITH:
Okay. Thank you very much for your time this morning.
GREG HUNT:
Done. Thanks very much.
CHRIS SMITH:
Okay. Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt.
(ENDS)