“Labor has set itself apart by ruling out direct funding for the Indian coal tycoon Adani’s rail line, but needs to go further to make good on promises to protect the Reef and the jobs of 60,000 Queenslanders who work within the Reef tourism and science industries” said Greenpeace Reef campaigner Shani Tager.
Labor Environment spokesperson Jackie Trad announced the position last night on the campaign trail, but failed to withdraw Labor support for LNP development plans at Abbot Point. Under the current plan, Queensland taxpayers’ money will be used to fund dredging of million of tonnes of seafloor in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area to expand Adani’s Abbot Point coal port.
“Labor’s announcement is a start, but the party needs to rule out using taxpayers money to dredge the Reef,” Tager said.
On the other side of the electoral race, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has promised hundreds of millions of dollars worth of tax-payer funding for the controversial Carmichael mega mine and rail line.
“It’s pure madness to be investing tax-payer money into coal infrastructure on the Reef when the world’s largest banks aren’t even willing to touch it,” said Ms. Tager.
“Campbell Newman has cried poor while cutting funds from schools and hospitals, but somehow has a couple of hundred million spare to help a coal billionaire,” she said.
“Queensland needs a bold leader that is willing to move away from the corrupting influence of the coal industry and invest taxpayers money in the growing renewable energy industry rather than wrecking the Reef,” said Ms. Tager.
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, 0438 204 041
For interviews, contact Shani Tager, 0432 050 809