The Abbott Government’s taskforce of diplomats, revealed today, set up to lobby other countries over the threat of an ‘In Danger’ listing for the Great Barrier Reef, is not what the Reef needs.

“The Abbott Government hasn’t done its Reef homework and now is wasting the rest of the time it has left to get it done by making up excuses for the teacher,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

To save the Great Barrier Reef from an ‘In Danger’ listing, the Abbott Government needs to follow the World Heritage Committee’s recommendations, instead of telling other countries to back off, as reported today.

“The best way to avoid a World Heritage ‘In Danger’ listing, which would be a disaster for our tourism industry, is to do what the World Heritage Committee is asking, instead of trying to lobby and bully other countries,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

The Newman Government’s legislation, expected to pass today, letting big mining companies use up billions of litres of water without a licence rips off Queenslanders and the environment.

“The Newman Government is letting the big mining companies take all the water they want, regardless of the needs of farmers or the need for environmental flows in the Reef catchment,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

Following revelations that radioactive material is being used at CSG drilling sites in NSW and Qld, the Greens will move a motion in the federal Senate calling for disclosure of proposed use of radioactive materials in environmental impact statements.

“It’s utterly unacceptable that caesium-137, a radioactive isotope, was not even included in the CSG projects’ environmental impact statements,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said

In the Senate today the Abbott Government refused to rule out federal funding for Galilee Basin coal mines, ports and railways, by denying a vote on a Greens’ motion.

“We have the Newman Government trying to flog off public assets to give away money to  the big mining companies to destroy our Great Barrier Reef and climate.

At the state election, Queenslanders will not allow Campbell Newman’s plan, reported today, to sell off our public assets and give the proceeds to big mining companies to destroy our Great Barrier Reef and climate.  

“Campbell Newman wants to sell off Queenslanders’ public assets and give that money to mining magnates, like Clive Palmer, to prop up a dying industry that’s destroying our Reef and climate,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

The first hearing of the Queensland Senate Inquiry on the Gold Coast today shows why Tony Abbott’s plan to hand federal environmental approval powers to the Newman Government would be a disaster.

“From the Gold Coast’s beaches, to its hinterland, and residential areas in between, the Newman Government is attacking locals’ favourite spots,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

An international report out today, ‘The Fossil Fuel bailout: G20 subsidies for oil, gas and coal exploration’, shows the Abbott Government is giving the big mining companies billions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidies.                                                                   

The Australian Greens congratulate community campaigns to protect the Great Barrier Reef, which have brought about Labor’s change of policy on offshore dumping today.

“Finally Labor has realised that Australians will not accept dumping in our Reef, after Labor failed to refuse the Abbot Point dumping and approved the Gladstone Harbour dumping disaster when in government,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

The Australian Greens congratulate the Douglas Shire Council for becoming a Lock the Gate supportive shire and opposing coal seam gas.  

“This is wonderful news. It’s excellent to see a local council in Queensland taking leadership to protect their community’s land, water and climate from the big mining companies,” Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

“For such an incredibly biodiverse, unique area, which attracts so much tourism, coal seam gas would be disastrous for Douglas Shire.