2015-12-22
The Australian Greens condemn Minister Hunt's approval of the Queensland Labor Government's plan for a massive coal port in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area at Abbot Point.
"Minister Hunt's dangerous decision is bad news for our Reef, jobs and the climate," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, said.
"The damage ticked off on today includes dredging 1.1 million cubic metres of the Reef floor which will mobilise about 10,000 tonnes of fine sediment, smothering seagrass habitat for dugongs and turtles.
"What's worse is that this destruction on behalf of big mining companies like Adani will be paid for by the state Labor Government at the expense of Queensland taxpayers.
"The federal Liberal and state Labor governments are teaming up to do Adani's dirty work to turn our Great Barrier Reef into a highway for coal ships to cook the planet.
"The Great Barrier Reef is facing a mass coral bleaching event over summer - the last thing it needs is for millions of tonnes more coal to be dug up and burnt.
"The Liberal Government's decision is directly at odds with the global agreement in Paris to limit global warming within 1.5 degrees to save our Great Barrier Reef and our Pacific Island neighbours' homes.
"Adani doesn't have any finance for its white elephant of a project - why dredge up the Reef for a project that isn't economically viable and becomes even less so every day as the world powers ahead into the clean energy future?
"Queensland's future is in 21st century industries like renewable energy and tourism, not in the dying coal industry, which is already sacking workers who need a transition plan.
"The Greens have a plan to provide local jobs in mine rehabilitation and in the job-rich clean energy industry by building 90 per cent renewable energy by 2030," Senator Waters said.
The Greens' plan to care for coal workers: http://larissa-waters.greensmps.org.au/sites/default/files/caring_for_coal_workers.pdf
The Greens' plan to achieve 90 per cent renewable energy by 2030 http://renewaustralia.org.au/