The old parties today voted against a Greens’ Senate motion to refuse the world’s largest coal port being built in the Great Barrier Reef.
“With the decision on the Abbot Point coal terminal expansion expected in December, today’s Senate vote was a concerning sign that we’ll be getting coal for Christmas from the Abbott Government ,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson , said.
“ Both Labor and the Coalition refused to support my motion that noted the strong scientific, international and community concern about the mega coal port which would see 3 million cubic metres of dredge spoil dumped in the Reef’s World Heritage waters.
“Hundreds of millions of tonnes of coal would be exported at Abbot Point, significantly increasing Australia’s contribution to climate change and turning the Reef into a shipping super highway for the big mining companies.
“All to make the likes of Clive Palmer and Gina Rinehart richer with their mega coal mines in the Galilee Basin that threaten our groundwater, climate and Reef.
“The Abbott Government needs put the community and the environment ahead of the big mining companies for once and refuse the Abbot Point coal terminal expansion ,” Senator Waters said.
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Press Release, November 13, 2013