2016-05-04
The Greens condemn the politically motivated witch hunt against the voices for nature in the government's recommendations in the House of Representatives tax-deductibility for environment organisations inquiry report.
Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment and climate change spokesperson said:
"This inquiry has been a politically motivated with-hunt from the start.
"The Coalition can't take criticism of its anti-environment policies and so wants to shoot the messenger by crippling environment groups who are working for the public good.
"This inquiry was always about the Liberal and National mouthpieces for extractive industries like fossil fuels and logging trying to silence community voices for nature, in a classic case of shoot the messenger.
"Without strong voices for nature, the Franklin River would be dammed and the Great Barrier Reef would be scarred with oil rigs.
"It's nonsense to suggest that the only legitimate way to help our environment is clean up the local creek or planting trees, while not scrutinising and seeking to change the woeful national environmental policies of the Coalition Government.
"Restricting community organisations like Environment Defenders Offices from standing up for the community to protect their local area is an attack on our democracy.
"This is the latest in a long line of attacks on environmental democracy from the Liberals and Nationals including trying to remove public appeal rights against anti-environment decisions, cutting grants to community organisations, and completely de-funding EDOs" Senator Waters said.