Hundreds of coral sculptures erected at Parliament House as Australians urge politicians to save the Great Barrier Reef

Canberra, 31 August 2016 – Politicians returning to work at Parliament House this morning were greeted by hundreds of coral sculptures erected on the Parliament House lawn – as a new poll revealed that more than two-thirds of Australians want the government to prioritise the Australian environment over the coal mining industry.

Greenpeace activists placed more than 300 coral sculptures on the lawn last night to urge politicians to do more to protect the Great Barrier Reef from the impacts of climate change. A banner reading ‘Choose the reef, not coal’ was also displayed.

“We hope that by bringing the Great Barrier Reef to Canberra, politicians will be able to see first-hand what is at risk from their unwavering support for the coal mining industry,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific climate and energy campaigner Nikola Casule.

“Australia’s coal mining industry exports more than 1bn tonnes of carbon emissions each year. This contributes to increasing ocean temperatures which are killing the reef,” he added.

Polling conducted by ReachTEL for Greenpeace Australia Pacific on Monday 29 August and released today found that 69% of Australians polled agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “The Australian government should prioritise the interests of Australian communities and the environment over the interests of the coal mining industry.” [1]

Casule added: “Almost a quarter of the reef’s coral died this year. Australia can’t have both a healthy Great Barrier Reef and a coal industry. Our politicians have so far chosen coal, despite the fact Australians overwhelmingly want them to choose the reef.”

Greenpeace representatives will meet with new energy and environment minister Josh Frydenberg later this morning to hand over a petition signed by more than 30,000 people. The petition urges the government to choose the health of the reef over the coal industry by committing to a halt of new coal mine approvals and a plan to phase out existing coal mines in Australia.

Australia’s coal exports (1bn tonnes) dwarf Australia’s domestic carbon emissions (560m tonnes). Since 1990, Australia’s CO2 exports through coal have increased by 253%. [2]

Photographs

Hi-resolution photographs available for download here

References

[1] ReachTEL polling conducted for Greenpeace Australia Pacific on 30 August 2017 with a national sample of 1,804 people.

[2] Exporting climate change, killing the reef. Greenpeace, 2016. http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/what-we-do/climate/resources/reports/Exporting-climate-change-killing-the-Reef/