With revelations that a deep sea port has been built on the Tiwi Islands off Darwin without environmental assessment, the Australian Greens are urging the federal government to act.

"It is staggering that this deep sea port has been built on the beautiful Tiwi Islands, habitat to internationally significant and endangered plants and animals, without the federal environment department being alerted," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

The Abbott Government's plan to remove tax deductibility of donations to environment groups would devastate environment protection, heard the Senate Inquiry into the government's environment attacks at the first hearing in Brisbane today.

"One in five Australians donate to environment groups - their generosity and altruism should be rewarded by government," Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, who established the Inquiry, said.

The Australian Greens have secured recommendations against fracking and devolving federal environment protection in the Senate Inquiry report into the Queensland Government.

“Thanks to the Greens ensuring coal seam gas was part of the inquiry, the report recommends a ban on fracking, based on the alarming public evidence collected,” Senator Larissa Waters said.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, comments on the Abbott Government excluding Environmental Defenders Offices from its reversal of funding cuts to community legal centres:
"The Abbott Government is adding insult to injury by leaving out EDO from its announcement about funding cut reversals.
"Grassroots community groups face a David and Goliath battle in trying to protect their land, water and climate from big coal and gas.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Dredge Synthesis Panel Report, out today, confirms that dredging has damaging impacts and the full extent of the long-term impacts is unknown.

"The report confirms there are still significant knowledge gaps and uncertainty about the impacts of dredging in the Great Barrier Reef," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

"Yet dredging is going on in the Reef right now, with much more proposed or approved to go ahead in the future.

The Australian Greens are urging the Queensland and federal governments to act on the Australian Coral Reef Society's recommendation against expanding the Abbot Point coal port, in the society's report out today.

"Our top coral reef scientists are telling us we need to decide between protecting Great Barrier Reef and digging up the Galilee Basin," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

The Reef 2050 Plan, released today, fails dismally in protecting the Great Barrier Reef from climate change, dredging, dumping and shipping.

"This plan won't stop the Reef becoming a coal ship super highway," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

"The plan identifies that climate change is the biggest threat facing the Reef.

"But it ignores the climate impacts of digging up one the world's largest undeveloped coal basins and shipping it out through the Reef.

The Australian Greens are calling for urgent climate action based on advice by Professor Terry Hughes, co-author of new research in Science on poor management of World Heritage areas, including the Great Barrier Reef.

"The Abbott and Palaszczuk governments need to take heed of this serious warning from one of the world's leading coral reef scientists," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

"Based on the science, the choice is simple - coal or the Reef?