Abbott Government Should Listen More, Say the Greens

The Abbott Government should listen to international concern about the Great Barrier Reef instead of denying it is under threat, said today the Australian Greens.

“The Abbott Government obviously has its head in the dredge spoil on climate change and especially its impacts on the Great Barrier Reef,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

“President Obama joins the World Heritage Committee, scientific experts, the tourism industry and the community in pointing out that actually the Reef is under threat.

“The world is acting on climate and the Abbott and Newman governments are lagging, even though they have responsibility for the Great Barrier Reef, which is loved the world over,” Senator Waters added.

“The Abbott and Newman governments are allowing hundreds of millions of climate-destroying coal to be shipped through the Reef to come back to bite it through coral bleaching and ocean acidification.

“It’s no wonder that the international community is expressing concern for this globally unique World Heritage Area,” Senator Waters said.

Press Release