The Australian Greens are outraged by reports today that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has allowed dredge spoil dumping in the Reef for the Abbot Point coal port expansion.
The Greens will move for new laws in the federal Parliament to ban offshore dumping in the Great Barrier Reef to protect this World Heritage icon from being treated like a rubbish tip.
“It’s shocking that the authority set up to protect the Great Barrier Reef is allowing another three million cubic metres of sludge to be dumped in its World Heritage waters ,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson , said.
“The old parties need to stop letting the big mining companies treat this World Heritage Area as a rubbish tip and should support Greens’ legislation to ban offshore dumping in the Reef.
“The Abbott Government shamefully approved the Abbot Point coal terminal expansion, including the dredging and dumping, in December last year.
“Despite the Abbott Government’s approval, GBRMPA had the power to save the Reef from being smothered by the coal port’s dredge spoil.
“GBRMPA has today failed to stand up to the Abbott Government and the big mining companies for the sake of the World Heritage Area entrusted in its care.”
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Press Release, January 31, 2014