Media Release
Post on 13 June 2014 by Jackie Trad
Shadow Environment Minister, Jackie Trad, says the Abbott and
Newman Governments are blatantly taking credit for the hard work of
former state and federal Labor Governments that led to improvements in
water quality of the Great Barrier Reef.
“The federal and state Environment Ministers, Greg Hunt and Andrew Powell, are pretending to have a commitment to ensuring the future of the Reef but neither is doing as much as their Labor predecessors,” Ms Trad said.
“Neither the Abbott nor Newman Government has provided any extra funding to programs that help protect the Reef."
“No extra funding means no extra effort to protect and preserve our Great Barrier Reef."
“In 2009 Labor state and federal governments produced ambitious water quality targets as part of Reef Plan 2009-14 and funded projects to achieve them.“
Ms Trad said LNP MPs then in opposition attacked programs and legislation aimed at improving protections and the Reef’s water quality.
During debate on the former Labor Government’s Great Barrier Reef Protection Amendment Bill in October 2009 the current Environment Minister Andrew Powell said: “Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of all governments of any ilk, but particularly this one, throwing good money after bad at packages, programs and plans.”
Current Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said: “The stated objectives of this Bill and the stated reasons for this Bill as per the explanatory notes are fraudulent and fabricated. I oppose this bill because it is a dishonest bill, motivated by base politics rather than being based on sound science.”
Ms Trad said the Labor Party in Queensland was happy to see Reef quality targets being met but it was an indictment of the Newman Government that it tried to take credit for work it didn’t do.
“Since being elected the Abbott Government has cut $2.8 million from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and $7.8 million from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS),” she said.
“Having visited AIMS near Townsville just yesterday I can testify to the importance of its research in protecting the Great Barrier Reef.
“The Abbott Government has tried to hide its funding cuts from these organisations by announcing a $40 million reef trust.
“But the funding has merely been repackaged from federal Labor’s $200 million Reef Rescue package announced in 2013."
“The Abbott Government has not committed one extra dollar to reef funding."
“The Newman Government isn’t fairing much better. Their recent budget announcement of extra funding to reducing runoff is merely a repackaging of existing funds.”
Ms Trad said the two governments were also ignoring the criticism by UNESCO about their stewardship. UNESCO’s draft decision stated: “The proposed dumping of dredged material from the proposed Abbot Point development is also noted with concern. Indeed, this was approved, despite an indication that less impacting disposal alternatives may exist.”
She said UNESCO had also criticised the transfer of environmental approval powers to the Newman Government stating it considered “…..that the transfer of decision-making power from Federal to State levels, before the vision, framework with desired outcomes and targets, and governance requirements to deliver the LTPSD have been adopted, is premature, and should be postponed to allow further consideration.”
“There is so much bad news coming out of both governments at the moment that they are
desperately trying to spin good news stories about their stewardship of the Great Barrier Reef despite their brief track records,” Ms Trad said.
“The federal and state Environment Ministers, Greg Hunt and Andrew Powell, are pretending to have a commitment to ensuring the future of the Reef but neither is doing as much as their Labor predecessors,” Ms Trad said.
“Neither the Abbott nor Newman Government has provided any extra funding to programs that help protect the Reef."
“No extra funding means no extra effort to protect and preserve our Great Barrier Reef."
“In 2009 Labor state and federal governments produced ambitious water quality targets as part of Reef Plan 2009-14 and funded projects to achieve them.“
Ms Trad said LNP MPs then in opposition attacked programs and legislation aimed at improving protections and the Reef’s water quality.
During debate on the former Labor Government’s Great Barrier Reef Protection Amendment Bill in October 2009 the current Environment Minister Andrew Powell said: “Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of all governments of any ilk, but particularly this one, throwing good money after bad at packages, programs and plans.”
Current Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said: “The stated objectives of this Bill and the stated reasons for this Bill as per the explanatory notes are fraudulent and fabricated. I oppose this bill because it is a dishonest bill, motivated by base politics rather than being based on sound science.”
Ms Trad said the Labor Party in Queensland was happy to see Reef quality targets being met but it was an indictment of the Newman Government that it tried to take credit for work it didn’t do.
“Since being elected the Abbott Government has cut $2.8 million from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and $7.8 million from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS),” she said.
“Having visited AIMS near Townsville just yesterday I can testify to the importance of its research in protecting the Great Barrier Reef.
“The Abbott Government has tried to hide its funding cuts from these organisations by announcing a $40 million reef trust.
“But the funding has merely been repackaged from federal Labor’s $200 million Reef Rescue package announced in 2013."
“The Abbott Government has not committed one extra dollar to reef funding."
“The Newman Government isn’t fairing much better. Their recent budget announcement of extra funding to reducing runoff is merely a repackaging of existing funds.”
Ms Trad said the two governments were also ignoring the criticism by UNESCO about their stewardship. UNESCO’s draft decision stated: “The proposed dumping of dredged material from the proposed Abbot Point development is also noted with concern. Indeed, this was approved, despite an indication that less impacting disposal alternatives may exist.”
She said UNESCO had also criticised the transfer of environmental approval powers to the Newman Government stating it considered “…..that the transfer of decision-making power from Federal to State levels, before the vision, framework with desired outcomes and targets, and governance requirements to deliver the LTPSD have been adopted, is premature, and should be postponed to allow further consideration.”
“There is so much bad news coming out of both governments at the moment that they are
desperately trying to spin good news stories about their stewardship of the Great Barrier Reef despite their brief track records,” Ms Trad said.
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