Who runs Australia The government or UNESCO

The Parliamentary Select Committee has recommended today Tuesday Sept 1, 2015 that Cairns and Mourilyn ports be classified as strategic ports and not boutique ports.


BUT THEN:

The findings and recommendations of the Parliamentary Select Committee really meant nothing to the government so another waste of tax payers money on another inquiry.
The following is the report in the Cairns Post:


A WIDE-reaching inquiry by a Queensland parliamentary committee has found that excluding the Port of Cairns as a priority port would have a "detrimental impact" on the growth of the region and have negative impacts on employment and tourism, and on business.
The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee conducted a three-month inquiry into the Sustainable Ports Development Bill 2015, which was criticised by the Cairns business community for excluding Cairns and Mourilyan ports from a list of four "priority ports".

Organisations like Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Cairns Regional Council argued the Bill in its current form would restrict major future growth at the Port of Cairns.

And in handing down its report this week, the parliamentary committee agreed.

"The committee supports the view that excluding the Port of Cairns as a priority port may have a detrimental impact on the growth of the region, including adversely affecting employment, tourism, and business," the report stated.

Dr Anthony Lynham

"The committee is of the view that submitters have provided reasonable arguments in favour of declaring the Port of Cairns as a priority port."

by Minister for State Development, Natural Resources and Mines, Dr Anthony Lynham, who dismissed the committee’s findings just hours after they were released.

"I appreciate the committee’s consideration of the Bill and their report will be considered in full and in detail," he said in a statement.

"However, the Government will not divert from elements of the Bill which form part of our Reef 2050 plan.

"The Queensland and Australian governments committed to UNESCO for only four priority regional ports, and that commitment must stand."

The parliamentary committee unanimously recommended the Minister consider declaring Port of Cairns as a priority port, following "a considered assessment" of three areas – the environmental impacts on the Great Barrier Reef, the economic benefits to the Cairns region, and the Government’s commitments made to UNESCO and under the Reef 2050 Long-term Sustainability Plan.

Member for Mulgrave and Treasurer Curtis Pitt said he wanted to support growth, but not at the expense of the Reef.

"Future development opportunities for the Port of Cairns are accommodated in this Bill. It includes transitional arrangements protecting those projects currently undergoing an EIS process – notably the Cairns Shipping Development Project," he said.

The committee’s report will be presented to the Parliament for when the Bill is debated in coming months.