Mr WETTENHALL (Wednesday 14 April 2010) (6.11 pm): I am sure the MUA will be interested to read a copy of the member for Noosa's speech. Can I begin by also adding to the minister's recognition and acknowledgement and pass on my thanks to all of the personnel who have been involved in the salvage operation and removing the Shen Neng 1 from Douglas Shoal and averting-without in any way downplaying the significance of the damage that has been caused-what could have been a far worse
disaster. They deserve our thanks, praise and acknowledgement.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the richest and most complex and diverse ecosystems in the world. In order to enhance navigational safety and reduce the risk of shipping incidents, the Queensland government in conjunction with the Commonwealth government implemented one of the world's first
mandatory ship reporting systems in January 1997.

As a result of changes in technology in 2004 the ship reporting system evolved into the vessel traffic service, which has been mentioned during the course of this debate. It detects, monitors and manages the movement of ships to ensure the safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment. That system has been formally recognised by the
International Maritime Organisation.

Some 8,000 ships transit the Great Barrier Reef annually and a large number of these are calling into Queensland ports. By maintaining an accurate and near real-time traffic image, the vessel traffic service can improve the safety and efficiency of navigation, thereby minimising the risk of shipping
incidents and any associated pollution damage.

Statistics indicate that the number of groundings in the ReefVTS area since the introduction of the ReefVTS has reduced on average from one per year between 1997 and 2003 to just one in the last six years. ReefVTS has been providing timely and accurate information to assist in the navigational decision making on board.

Significantly, the use of this modern detection and tracking system allows ReefVTS to intervene earlier with shipping, reducing the need for such interaction by mitigating the risk prior to the danger of grounding being imminent.

At the time of its establishment ReefVTS did not extend to the southern region of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Times have now changed. Since the ReefVTS was installed in 2004 this state has experienced an unprecedented mining boom which has fuelled huge growth in the number of ships visiting
our shores.

The port of Gladstone has forecast that by 2014-15 ship arrivals at that port will increase by 31 per cent to over 2,000 arrivals annually and by 66 per cent to 2½ thousand arrivals in 2018-19. That means jobs for Queenslanders, but it does mean that we have to redouble our efforts to protect our precious Great
Barrier Reef.

As important as industries like coal and LNG are, the tourism industry also plays a critical role in our state's economy and our prosperity. It is estimated that tourism contributes $9.2 billion directly and up to $18.8 billion through visitor expenditure to the Queensland economy.

According to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 1.9 million tourists and 4.9 million recreational visitors visit the reef each year. Approximately 840 tourism operators and 1,700 tourism vessels are permitted to operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

In 2008 nearly three million people were transported by tourism vessels to island destinations on the reef. Just over one million international and domestic overnight visitors dive and snorkel on the reef annually. Reef tourism in 2006-07 was worth $5.1 billion to the Australian economy.

It was also worth $3.6 billion to local communities located in the reef catchment area. The reef supports the equivalent of 53,800 full-time jobs, and 93½ per cent of these are directly involved in tourism.

For those reasons and for our existing and emerging industries and for our important tourism industry we know how important the reef is. We know how important shipping is. We can and we must protect both. That is why the time for the extension of the VTS system to the southern portion of the reef
has come.

For those reasons, I commend the amended motion to the House.