Press release – 19 April, 2015Brisbane, 17 April: The Queensland Government’s referral of yet another dredging and dumping proposal for Abbot Point should be thrown out, says Greenpeace.The proposal will see dredging in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and the dumping of dredge spoil next to the Reef and the Caley Valley Wetlands.
“This is the third proposal for Abbot Point and it is still terrible news for the Reef,” says Greenpeace campaigner Shani Tager. “In addition to the direct impacts of dredging and dumping, it will mean more ships through the Reef’s sensitive waters, more coal dust and a higher risk of shipping accidents.”
“The biggest long term threat to the Reef is climate change and this proposal will see more coal shipped through the Reef and burnt, ultimately driving dangerous climate change.”
“If Greg Hunt and the Abbott Government are serious about protecting the Reef – as they keep telling the world they are – they should stop this project in its tracks,” says Tager. “If the Queensland government is serious about protecting the Reef, it shouldn’t be anywhere near this proposal.”
“Scientists are telling us the Reef’s health is already on the brink, and UNESCO is so worried they’re considering putting the Reef on the World Heritage ‘in danger’ list at their next meeting in June”
“When a much-loved Australian national icon is at risk of collapse, Australians expect their governments to pull out all the stops to save it. That is not what is happening. The people of Australia – and our beloved Reef – are being failed by our governments.”
“In a week where China announced a 42% decrease in coal imports for this year, the future of the entire project is in question – why would we risk our Reef when it’s not clear there’s any future demand for the coal?”
For interviews, contact:
Elsa Evers
+61) 438 204 041
or Shani Tager
(+61) 427 914 070
Video footage and photos:
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