Dumping dredge spoil near the Great Barrier Reef must stop until the impacts on the tourist attraction are properly investigated.
It's a parliamentary inquiry recommendation that has bipartisan support, along with approval from the Australian Greens.
The health of the reef is in danger, with reports showing up to a 50 per cent deterioration of coral cover in the past three decades.
Several factors could be to blame, including climate change, coastal development, crown-of-thorn starfish, coral bleaching and severe weather like tropical cyclones.
The impacts of dredging are less well documented but there are concerns spoil could do long-term damage.
A panel has been set up to research the impacts of the activity and a Labor-Greens Senate committee has recommended a moratorium on dredge spoil dumping until that is completed.
That has support from coalition committee members as do 22 of 28 other recommendations.
"We acknowledge that the dredging, and the disposal of dredge spoil, can have some quite significant localised impacts," Liberal senator and committee deputy chair, Anne Ruston, said.
But Labor senator and committee chair Anne Urquhart accused the Abbott government of showing little interest in protecting the reef and focusing on mining in the area.
The Australian Greens welcomed the moratorium but said it didn't go far enough, calling for a permanent ban on dumping in the world heritage area.
Among the recommendations with bipartisan support was consideration of a cap on dredge spoil in the area, completion of the Reef 2050 long-term sustainability plan, continued research into best farming practices and an upgrade of sewage treatment plants in the area.
However, despite the somewhat rare agreement on several recommendations, there were clashes over the government's one-stop-shop environment approvals.
Legislation before the Senate would hand approval power for nationally significant environment decisions to the states.
Currently, projects need a tick from both the state government and the federal environment minister.
Labor and the Greens oppose one-stop-shops, saying state governments don't have the standards or safeguards in place to deal with such approvals.
It's not yet known if the government has the numbers to pass the legislation.
Share
