QRC: GBR Facts to Fore in Advertising Campaign (Australia)

Television commercials urging Australians to become informed about the true environmental health of the Great Barrier Reef will begin screening nationally tomorrow.

The commercials are authorised by the Queensland Resources Council in the wake of an admitted ‘scaremongering’ campaign by environmental activist groups.

“The activists’ stated objective is to shut down Queensland’s export coal and gas industries,” QRC Chief Executive Michael Roche said today.

“The Great Barrier Reef is convenient and emotional leverage for the campaign following a 2012 report that found the reef had lost 47 percent of its coral over the preceding 27 years.

“The authors of that report – the Australian Institute of Marine Science and Wollongong University – are unequivocal in attributing the blame for that coral loss to storms (48%), crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks (42%) and coral bleaching (10%).

“Activists are ignoring the scientific evidence and blatantly peddling the line to Australian and international audiences that port developments, dredging and shipping are endangering the reef.

“The message from Queensland is as clear as it has ever been – there is no dredging of coral reefs or seagrass and no disposal of dredge spoil on coral reefs, seagrass or other environmentally sensitive areas.

“Neither an increase in shipping traffic nor port dredging has been scientifically recorded as contributing to coral cover loss or a historical decline in the environmental health of the Great Barrier Reef.

“The scientific work into the ongoing environmental management of the Great Barrier Reef is no secret, and that is why we are asking Australians to learn more from the Queensland Government’s Reef Facts website,” he said.

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Press Release, April 22, 2014