Opened the debate
Whish-Wilson argued that the minister would approve the Browse project under previous EPBC laws rather than the recently passed legislation, thereby excluding climate change impacts from the assessment. The senator noted that the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority had recommended against the project due to risks to Scott Reef, a sensitive coral atoll, but claimed the state government had altered the EPA's mandate to consider economic consequences. Whish-Wilson contended that the project would release 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon, with over 80 per cent of emissions occurring overseas, and described the associated offsets as ineffective. The senator cited International Energy Agency guidance to leave new fossil fuels in the ground and warned that approving the project would endanger marine ecosystems and future generations.