Mark Butler MP.
Shadow Minister for Environment
Climate Change and Water
Date: 21 November 2014
Julie Bishop has told media
this morning that her office sent a briefing to the Whitehouse because
she wanted President Obama to have the “facts and details” on the Abbott
Government’s commitment to the Great Barrier Reef.
Did she tell the President these facts and details?
FACT:
The World Heritage Committee has warned the Government that it will
list the Reef as “in danger” next year if the Government does not take
further action to protect it. The Committee said it regretted the Abbott
Government’s decision to approve the dumping of 3 million cubic tonnes
of dredge spoil near the Reef.
FACT: The Government’s own 2014 Outlook Report
on the Reef states that, “climate change remains the most serious
threat to the Great Barrier Reef”. The United Nations has found that
Australia is in the top four countries that are not doing enough to
mitigate climate change.
FACT:
Since coming to Government, the Abbott Government has rushed through
any development proposal to hit the Environment Minister’s desk,
including numerous large scale projects on or near the reef.
FACT:
Tony Abbott has attempted to handover environmental approvals to
Campbell Newman, dissolving Commonwealth responsibility and
accountability for the Reef.
FACT:
The Abbott Government has slashed funding to projects to protect the
Reef, including Caring for our Country, Landcare and Reef Rescue.
FACT:
This morning Julie Bishop told SKY News that “we do not believe [the
Reef] is in danger”. The Government’s Outlook Report says the Reef is an
“icon under pressure” and that the “overall outlook for the Great
Barrier Reef is poor”.
Dear Julie. Please feel free to send this statement to President Obama so he can have the facts.
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