The Newman Government’s discount mine royalties for the Galilee Basin, announced today, threaten the Great Barrier Reef, groundwater and climate, say the Australian Greens.
“ At the end of the fossil fuel era, the Newman Government is propping up coal at the expense of the Great Barrier Reef and the climate, to make mining magnates even richer ,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson , said.
“ People like Clive Palmer don’t need any help making even more money, especially when their mega profits go to buying political power, as a federal parliamentary inquiry is now set to investigate.
“Even though global coal demand is dropping, the Newman Government is determined to exacerbate climate change, threaten groundwater and industrialise the Great Barrier Reef, by propping up coal as the rest of the world moves on.
“Three of the Galilee Basin mega mines, owned by Clive Palmer, Gina Rinehart and an Indian conglomerate, are set to create more CO2 emissions a year than produced annually by both Denmark and Portugal combined.
“After a massive port expansion at Abbot Point, the masses of coal are to be exported through the Reef, turning it into a shipping super highway for the big mining companies.
“The port expansion proposal would see three million cubic metres of dredge spoil dumped into the Reef’s World Heritage waters, putting even more pressure on our struggling Reef.
“The World Heritage Committee is warning the Reef could be added to the international ‘In Danger’ list and the rest of the world is acting on climate change.
“But Campbell Newman and Tony Abbott are bending over backwards for the big mining companies and it’s an international embarrassment ,” Senator Waters said.
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Press Release, November 7, 2013