Greens: Government Allows Big Donor to Dredge in GBR

The Australian Greens are alarmed by a report today that a former coal baron was allowed to dredge in the Great Barrier Reef after donating $150 000 to the Queensland LNP a week before.

“It’s clear the big end of town is running the Newman Government at the expense of everyday Queenslanders and the Great Barrier Reef,” Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

As reported in The Financial Review today, the Queensland environment department approved an amendment to the permit to dredge at Abell Point a week after the owner of the Abell Point marina, Paul Darrouzet, donated $150,000 to the Queensland Liberal National Party.

“The Newman Government needs to stop putting political donations above the environment and transparent decision making.

“Queenslanders won’t stand for big business running the show, as shown by the Premier’s mounting unpopularity.

“The Newman Government should immediately reverse its increase to the threshold for disclosing political donations,” Senator Waters said.

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Press Release, August 18, 2014