September 5, 2018: Labor’s declaration they will look to reclaim $443 million of public money from a foundation backed by big polluters is a good step but will still fail to address the real cause of the Great Barrier Reef’s decline.Greenpeace is calling for Labor to commit to a plan to phase out coal and push for 100 per cent renewable energy after Tony Burke announced Great Barrier Reef Foundation could possibly be forced to pay back every dollar of the grant that hasn’t been spent.
“Big coal companies are killing the Great Barrier Reef, and the only way to slow its death is to phase out coal and endorse Australia’s love of solar by accelerating the transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030,”Greenpeace campaigner Jonathan Moylan said.
“Creating a slush fund that was supposed to help the Reef but was instead given to a group who lacked the staff to even use it, and that is staffed by individuals from industry rather than science or environment backgrounds is a disgrace.
Moylan said both the funnelling of money to the Reef Foundation and the Reef 2050 plan failed to address the real threat to one of Australia’s most treasured natural wonders – climate change.
“This money was always a measure to distract from the Government’s failure to get out of bed with the coal industry,” Moylan said.
“No amount of money, or starfish culling, or sediment monitoring, can save the Reef unless we tackle climate change. Bleaching events driven by climate change are the main thing that are killing the Reef.”
For interviews contact:
Simon Black
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Senior Media Campaigner
0418 219 086 / [email protected]