Press release – 12 June, 2016Brisbane, 13 June 2016 – Responding to Malcolm Turnbull’s announcement for a $1bn fund to protect the Great Barrier Reef, Greenpeace Australia Pacific reef campaigner Shani Tager said:“Prime Minister Turnbull’s announcement fails to include any new money for the Great Barrier Reef. It doesn’t address climate change and the mining and burning of coal which are the biggest threats to the future of the reef.
“The money announced today has already been promised to renewable energy. Today’s announcement isn’t going to lead to any additional renewable energy projects being built and we know that for a healthy reef we need a rapid increase in new renewable projects being built and a phase out of coal mining.
“This is Turnbull trying to look like he’s doing something for the Great Barrier Reef while standing on the spot. This is simply not good enough when the reef is suffering from its worst coral bleaching in history.
“In addition to being home to thousands of fish and other marine life, the Great Barrier Reef supports almost 70,000 jobs in Queensland and it’s troubling that neither major party are prepared to take the necessary steps to protect this incredible place.”
Greenpeace Australia Pacific is calling on the parties to take to the election a credible plan to phase out coal mining and a just transition to sustainable jobs in technology and renewable energy.