Greens Move for Senate Inquiry on Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

The Australian Greens are moving for a Senate Inquiry into the management of the Great Barrier Reef and are calling on the other parties to support the inquiry.

“Our inquiry would examine whether the mounting threats to the Reef are being properly managed or whether pressure from the mining industry, driving the unprecedented industrialisation, will see the Reef’s demise,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

“Our Reef is under more pressure than ever before, with five million tonnes of sludge dumping for Abbot Point, pollution from Clive Palmer’s nickel refinery, and fish kills and disease following dredging in Gladstone.

“Due to the onslaught of development, the World Heritage Committee is warning the Reef’s status could be downgraded to ‘World Heritage In Danger’, which would be a disaster for the 63,000 people who rely on the Reef’s health for their jobs.

“With five new or expanded ports proposed, and the Abbott and Newman governments at the helm, the Reef is in danger of becoming a dump ground for dredge spoil and a shipping super highway.”

The Greens’ proposed inquiry will be moved in the Senate tomorrow and voted on Tuesday, 25 March, 2014.

[mappress]

Press Release, March 19, 2014