The Liberals have cemented their position as a party of science denial by seeking to establish a parliamentary inquiry into the science on the impact of farm run off on the health of the Great Barrier Reef, said the Greens.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters spoke to reporters in Canberra today about the government's support for making the Great Barrier reef a rubbish dump and called for action in the public interest from the media inquiry report due out today.

The looming Cabinet reshuffle, including hopes for an effective environment minister, and the need to inform the public about the power of lobbyists were among other topics discussed.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown joined Greens Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters in Gladstone today to see the environmental crisis in the harbour firsthand and listen to the concerns of the Gladstone community.

"I am very pleased to be back here, getting a firsthand account from Queensland's most engaged Senator, Larissa Waters. A vote for either of the old parties is a vote for this mess," Senator Brown said.

Senator Larissa Waters was interviewed by Matt Wordsworth for the AM program on Radio National, 14 September 2011, on the record number of turtle and dugong deaths following the Queensland floods. Listen to the recording on the Radio National website here:

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/am/201109/20110914-am08-marine-deaths.mp3