Greens: Minister Needs to Revoke Abbot Point Approval

Following revelations on the ABC’s Four Corners program, the Australian Greens are calling on Minister Hunt to revoke his approval of the Abbot Point dredging and dumping in the Great Barrier Reef and then resign.

“It’s clear that strong scientific concerns within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority were trumped by political will to approve the Abbot Point dredging and dumping,” Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson said.

“As former GBRMPA director Jon Day said on the program, there were alternatives but the cheapest option was ticked off on for the big mining companies. Another GBRMPA officer advised that the Abbot Point dredging and dumping was socially and environmentally unacceptable.

“All of the evidence points to the approval decision being political rather than science based and it must be revoked.

“The Abbott Government has deserted the tourism and fishing industries, who have already suffered the destruction of dredging and dumping at Gladstone Harbour and Hay Point.

“The Great Barrier Reef, which brings in $6 billion annually and is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is being turned into a dredging and dumping ground for the big mining companies under the Abbott Government.

“To save the Reef from being added to the World Heritage ‘In Danger’ list, the old parties should support the Greens’ bill to ban dredge spoil dumping in the Reef, which is currently in the federal Parliament,” Senator Waters said.

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Press Release, August 19, 2014