2015-10-28
The Palaszczuk Government’s lodgement of the Abbot Point coal port expansion final Environmental Impact Statement with Minister Hunt today, confirms it’s forging ahead with its agenda to turn the Great Barrier Reef into a fossil fuel highway.
“The Palaszczuk Government is continuing to do Adani’s dirty work for it,” Qld Senator Larissa Waters Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said.
“Labor has paid for this environmental impact statement with taxpayers money, when usually the company itself foots the bill.
“And now Labor is set to pay for the dredging in this World Heritage Area to create one of the biggest coal ports in the world, which will turn the Reef into a highway for coal ships.
“There’s no guarantee we will get this money back – Adani is mortgaged to the hilt and hasn’t attracted any finance for its Carmichael coal mine. In fact 14 banks internationally have ruled out financing it.
“What a tragic backflip from Labor after campaigning on protecting the Great Barrier Reef in the election.
“Exporting more coal will supercharge dangerous global warming, which will cook the Reef.
“Queenslanders care deeply about our Great Barrier Reef and halting global warming. The unprecedented amount of public submissions to the EIS, at 55 000, is testament to Queenslanders’ love for the Reef.
“So many Queenslanders are deeply disappointed that the Palaszczuk Government has turned out to be just as bad as the Newman Government when it comes to treating our Reef as a highway for climate-destroying fossil fuels,” Senator Waters said.
Contact – Monique Vandeleur 0419 626 725