Press release – 28 July, 2014Sydney, 29 July 2014: Claims by Environment Minister Greg Hunt suggesting Greenpeace has has been too hard on the Liberal Government can be disproved with a simple Google search, says Greenpeace.Minister Hunt lashed out at Greenpeace in an interview on the Radio National Breakfast program this morning, suggesting that the independent organisation has been more critical of the current government than they were of the previous government. On two occasions, the Minister claimed that while Greenpeace criticised his decision to approve Australia’s biggest coal mine, Carmichael mine, Greenpeace said nothing when Labor approved the nearby Alpha coal mine.
“A quick google search with
‘Greenpeace AND “Alpha Mine”’
shows Greenpeace was in fierce opposition to Alpha coal mine,” said Greenpeace Program Director Ben Pearson. “A total of 2,190 google results come up with those exact words,” said Pearson.
One page on the Greenpeace website says: “
The Alpha development is an environmental disaster, threatening our Reef, our climate and wildlife in the mining area.
”
A further blog about the Alpha Mine on the Greenpeace website is titled “Mega mine, mega catastrophe.”
“We know Minister Hunt is
au fait
with Wikipedia
, but he should try using Google,” said Pearson, “especially before he starts discrediting independent organisations supported by tens of thousands of Australians on national radio.”
“Rather than attacking environmental organisations, we think Minister Hunt’s time would be better used protecting the environment he is employed to protect,” said Pearson.
“Greenpeace is a wholly independent organisation that does not accept money from governments, corporations or political parties,” said Pearson. “We rely entirely on the generosity of individuals who make monthly donations to support our campaigns precisely so that we can maintain our independence from political parties and campaign to protect Australia’s precious places regardless of the politics of the day.”
“Our most urgent priority right now is saving the Great Barrier Reef from destructive coal developments like that just approved yesterday by Minister Hunt.”
“Carmichael Mine will be the biggest coal mine ever seen in Australia.
“This mega mine and its associated infrastructure will impact a total of 60 threatened species, require over 3 million tonnes of sea floor to be dredged from inside the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area, and produce over 130 mega tonnes of carbon emissions each year,” Pearson said.
Video footage and photographs of the Carmichael mine site and Abbot Point terminal available here:
www.greenpeacemedia.org
Username: photos Password: green
For images or more information, contact:
Elsa Evers
Greenpeace Media Advisor
Tel:
0438 204 041
Email: