This weekend, the World Heritage Committee released its draft decision on the state of the Great Barrier Reef, giving the Australian and Queensland Governments a stern warning and a one-year ultimatum: do better, or see the Great Barrier Reef on the World Heritage In Danger list – and become the only developed nation with a site on that list of shame.
The mining boom in Queensland has led to rapid expansions of coal and gas ports along the Reef coast. Building new coal and gas ports means dredging up seabed and dumping the spoil back in the Reef’s waters, so that more fossil fuels ships can treat the Reef like a coal and gas highway.
This fossil fuel export frenzy puts at risk the integrity of this natural wonder, and 54,000 jobs that rely on a healthy Reef – not to mention the $6 billion annually it brings to the Queensland economy.
“...currently a total of 43 proposed developments are being assessed for potential impacts on the [Great Barrier Reef’s] Outstanding Universal Value”1
Despite the World Heritage Committee’s urges that we halt port developments until we know what the Reef can handle, Governments are still allowing assessment of the multitude of development proposals that will impact the Reef to continue, including new and expanded coal and gas ports.
“...the World Heritage Centre and the IUCN note that no explicit policy statement by the Australian government has been made that assures that port development outside of existing major ports areas are not permitted.”2
Again, neither the Australian nor the Queensland governments have ruled out putting
massive ports in precious places like Balaclava Island and the Fitzroy Delta, favouring instead the interests of the big mining companies over coastal communities and unique wildlife like the indigenous Snubfin Dolphin of that region. We need to protect these places in law.
Read this article about the World Heritage Committee’s warning
“Urgent and decisive action is needed”3
It’s time to put the Reef before politics and make Reef protection law. I moved a bill in the Senate to make the World Heritage Committee recommendations law; and in three weeks time, the Senate Environment committee is investigating that bill in Brisbane, hearing from industry, reef experts and community groups about the best way to protect the Reef.
But right now, our governments need to hear from you.
Yours in protecting the Reef,
Larissa
Senator Larissa Waters
Australian Greens Senator for Queensland and
Greens spokesperson for the Great Barrier Reef
PS. If you know five, ten or fifteen people who would like to send a postcard to Minister Burke asking him to protect the Reef from dredging, dumping and shipping, sign up to have a Great Barrier Reef Postcard Action Pack sent to you (and thanks to those who already have!)
1. State of conservation of World Heritage properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, p23, http://whc.unesco.org/archive/2013/whc13-37com-7B-en.pdf
2. ibid, p23
3. ibid, p25
Authorised by Senator Larissa Waters, Parliament House, Canberra 2600