The draft environmental impact statement on the Abbot Point coal port for the Adani Carmichael mine includes alarming environmental impacts and shows there is no difference between the Abbott and Palaszczuk governments on coal.

"The Palaszczuk Government is pushing ahead with one of the world's largest coal ports in the Great Barrier Reef for coal mines that probably won't go ahead," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

The Abbott Government's decision to gut public enforcement of environmental laws is an attack on democracy and our most important environmental assets.

"This is a dummy spit from a government that got the law wrong twice, and now wants to stop the community from holding government to account," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said.

The Attorney General's plan to limit public enforcement of environmental law is an attack on democracy and won't change that the Carmichael coal mine doesn't make economic sense.  

"The Abbott Government won't let anything get in the way of its coal obsession, not even the law," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens deputy leader and climate change spokesperson, said.

"It's so determined to put coal ahead of renewables, despite renewable technology bounding ahead and the coal price dwindling, that it wants to take away public rights to uphold environment law.

The Australian National Audit Office's report into Great Barrier Reef permits reveals a sloppy approvals process, especially in the case of the Abbot Point dumping permit.

"The audit shows the incredibly sloppy process that led to the Abbot Point offshore dumping permit being granted without enough time or information," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.  

"This vindicates why the community with the Greens campaigned successfully to cancel the offshore Abbot Point dumping permit.

The Senate has unanimously passed an Australian Greens' motion calling for urgent federal funding for cassowary conservation and rehabilitation.  

Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and environment spokesperson, said:

"We're pleased that all Senators supported the Greens' motion, and that in response to the motion the federal government said it would write to the state government about funding.

Court overturning Adani Carmichael mine is good news for the climate, Great Barrier Reef and Queensland economy

The Federal Court’s decision today to overturn the Abbott Government’s approval of Adani’s Carmichael coal mine is good news for the climate, environment and Queensland economy.                                       

Following the release of graphic footage by Sea Shepherd of marine wildlife entangled in shark nets and caught on drumlines, Queensland's system of shark-nets and drumlines needs urgent review.

Following the release of graphic footage by Sea Shepherd of marine wildlife entangled in shark nets and caught on drumlines, the Australian Greens say that Queensland’s system of shark nets and drum lines must be urgently reviewed.

 “We’re calling on the Queensland Government to swiftly end this indiscriminate torture of protected wildlife," said Greens Senator for Queensland, Deputy Leader Larissa Waters.

The World Heritage Committee has tonight in Germany decided to keep the Great Barrier Reef on an ongoing watch list and member countries have expressed concerns about shipping and maintenance dumping.

Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and environment spokesperson, said: 

"The World Heritage Committee is keeping the Reef's management on probation with updates due at 18 months and 4.5 years to assess whether the Reef should be listed as In Danger.