Adani : Carmichael Coal Mine : Federal Court set aside government approval

A reply to a letter sent to Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment :

Thank you for your email concerning the Carmichael Coal Mine in Queensland.

The Australian Government is committed to protecting the environment, including the Great Barrier Reef and addressing climate change.

Over the next decade, more than $2 billion will be invested in improving the health of the Reef. We have also implemented a new shipping plan to provide additional protection for the Reef.

When the Coalition was elected, the Reef was under threat of being listed as in-danger by the World Heritage Committee. After significant new funding investments and policy changes to ban capital dredge disposal, the Committee has held Australia up as a global role model in the management of the Reef and our Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan.

We are also committed to addressing climate change and are well on track to achieve our emissions reduction target by 2020 and have set a target of a 26-28 per cent reduction by 2030 based on 2005 emissions. This is a strong and credible target and will see Australia make one of the most significant contributions per capita with emissions reducing by at least 50 per cent.

In regards to the Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project, the Federal Court recently, with consent of all parties, formally set aside the approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth). This related to a technical, administrative matter and, to remove doubt, the Department advised that the decision should be reconsidered.

The decision was taken after a thorough environmental impact assessment process occurring over several years. The assessment looked at impacts on all relevant nationally protected matters, including the ornamental snake and yakka skink and included strict conditions to protect these two species. Another key species for which there were robust protections put in place is the black-throated finch, with approximately 31,000 hectares required to be protected. The project approval also included world-class environmental conditions for the protection of water, including a requirement for the return of at least 730 mega-litres of water per year for ten years to the Great Artesian Basin.

We will now be reconsidering the approval decision on the project. While we appreciate you may not support this project, the Government is required to assess these projects under environmental law without fear or favour in accordance with our strict national environmental laws.

Thank you for writing on this matter.

Yours sincerely

Deb Callister

Assistant Secretary

Assessments (Qld, Tas, Vic) & Policy Implementation Branch

Environment Standards Division

Department of the Environment

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar - 2014-02-05

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar February 5, 2014 Rally: Defend our environment! No dredging in the Great Barrier Reef. Saturday, February 8, 12 noon. Our environment is under attack like never before with forests being logged, large mining companies profiteering off the destruction of bushland and wildlife being culled. Now the Coalition federal government has approved dumping nearly 3 million cubic metres of spoil in an area near the Great Barrier Reef marine park as part of the Abbot Point coal port expansion near Bowen. State Library, 328 Swanston St, City. Film screening: John Pilger's 'Utopia' Thursday, February 27, 6:30pm. Examines the worsening oppression of Aboriginal people in Australia.  An epic production by the Emmy and Bafta winning film-maker and journalist John Pilger. Utopia is a vast region in northern Australia and home to the oldest human presence on earth. 'This film is a journey into that secret country,' says Pilger. 'It will describe not only the uniqueness of the first Australians, but their trail of tears and betrayal and resistance —  from one utopia to another.' See trailer here. (WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following program may contain images and voices of deceased persons.) Speakers: Vivian Malo (First Nations Liberation); Mick Bull (AMWU organiser who was involved in the 2010 union solidarity brigade that built a protest house in the Ampilatwatja community, a community that features in the film). Maritime Union of Australia Hall, 46–54 Ireland St, West Melbourne (2 min from North Melbourne station). Organised by Green Left Weekly & First Nations Liberation. Entry free, bookings essential. To book: ph 9639 8622 or visit http://www.trybooking.com/EFRC. This is the regular Melbourne activist calendar compiled by Green Left Weekly. Emailed to subscribers each Wednesday fortnight, it is a one-stop listing of the main left and progressive events in Melbourne and Geelong. Since it began in early 1991, Green Left Weekly has offered an indispensable alternative to the lies of the big-business media and has helped build the various movements for social change. To subscribe toGreen Left Weekly, visit our secure online website for rates and payment or call our national hotline on 1800 634 206. You can also contact us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Geelong we are at the Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4:30pm, Fri 10am-4:30pm); ph 5222 6900. New email address? Not already receiving this calendar regularly? Want to subscribe someone else? Let us know at Greenleft Melbourne. Ongoing Pickets against the East-West Tunnel take place on most weekday mornings. Join the campaign to stop the East-West Link. For more info txt 'tunnel' to 0432 447 036 to get picket locations via text message. Wednesday, February 5 Rally: For reproductive rights on the second day of parliament for 2014. We plan to show the LNP and Labor that we oppose the repeal of Section 8, and that we won’t have the Vic Liberals selling women’s abortion rights simply so they can stay in power until November. This demo has a double purpose: the anti-choice Helpers of God’s Precious Infants congregate at this very spot every day (all day!) parliament sits throughout the year. They also string their banner, depicting a cross for every foetus aborted since the first day of the year, on the fence outside Parliament House. This year, we plan to arrive first, so it’s us — the pro-choice majority — parliamentarians see as they head in to vote on laws that affect us. 7.30am. MP's carpark entrance, Parliament House, Macarthur St, opposite Women's Suffrage sculpture. Forum: What is the TPPA? Our government is negotiating an international agreement that could have a huge effect on the lives of ordinary people. It’s called the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), and it involves 12 Asian and Pacific-rim countries, including the United States. If it goes ahead, we risk damage to our innovative economy, our pristine environment, our health, and the ability to shape our own future. Speakers: Richard Denniss (executive director, Australia Institute); Deborah Gleeson (convenor, Political Economy of Health Special Interest Group of the Public Health Association of Australia); Angela Daly (2013 auDA Australian Internet Ambassador); Bob Phelps (executive director of Gene Ethics). Places unfortunately are limited so please reserve your free ticket via the ticketing system here: What is the TPPA? 6pm. 251 Queensberry St, Carlton South. AAWL public meeting: Women workers in Asia. 6pm. Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton South. Thursday, February 6 Moreland Campaign Against the East-West Tunnel (MCAT):  Special organising meeting.  To organise materials for our stalls this coming Saturday; to report back on plans for our community rally on March 30; and to plan how to build the rally. 6:30pm. Temple Park Senior Citizens Centre, Hodgson St, Brunswick. For more info call Sue Bolton on 0413 377 978. Friday, February 7 Rally: For LGBTIQ rights in Russia. Last year the Russian government introduced new laws banning ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations’. These laws essentially outlaw any positive mention of homosexuality. Putin is using these laws to deflect criticism away from his government, scapegoat minorities and cement power. Activists in Russia have called for people around the world to hold protests in front of Russia’s embassies and consulates on the day of the opening of the Olympic Games in Sochi. These Olympics will shine a spotlight not just on Russia and Putin but on the whole question of homophobia and LGBTIQ equality. 12 noon. Russia House, 114 Greeves St, Fitzroy. Organised by the Socialist Party. Rally: Australian and New Zealand march against the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. 6pm. City Square, 44-86 Swanston St, City. For information about the TPP please visit this website:www.tppaustralia.org. Saturday, February 8 Rally: Defend our environment! No dredging in the Great Barrier Reef. Our environment is under attack like never before with forests being logged, large mining companies profiteering off the destruction of bushland and wildlife being culled. Now the Coalition federal government has approved dumping nearly 3 million cubic metres of spoil in an area near the Great Barrier Reef marine park as part of the Abbot Point coal port expansion near Bowen. 12pm. State Library, 328 Swanston St, City. Public meeting: The origins of homophobia and the struggle for LGBTI liberation. What are the origins of homophobia in society? How is it maintained? How can we win real human liberation? 2pm. Resistance Centre, Level 5, 407 Swanston St, City (opposite RMIT). Organised by Socialist Alliance. For more info ph 9639 8622 or 0435 934 199. Sunday, February 9 Anatolian Peace & friendship festival. Live bands; traditional dances & foods; rides for children; art & craft stalls. 11am-6pm. Coburg Lake Reserve. Festival of the photocopier: Annual zine fair. Sticky Institute presents their annual zine fair, as part of the Festival of the Photocopier 2014. The event includes over 100 zine stalls, live music, the launch of this year's Feed the Animals fundraiser, and a guided tour of the fair by zine academic Dr Anna Polettil. 12-4pm. Melbourne Town Hall, cnr Swanston & Collins Sts, City. Full program atwww.stickyinstitute.com. Political Asylum: ABC Pty Ltd edition. Topical standup comedy. Now with commercial breaks! Featuring: Mathew Kenneally (MC), Toby Halligan, Stella Young, Dilruk Jayisuran, Tegan Marie Higginbotham & Nelly Thomas! 5:30pm. The Brunswick Green, 313 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. Sponsored by the Royal Australian Navy. $10/$5. Wednesday, February 12 Rally: Abortion speakout outside Geoff Shaw’s office. We don’t like Geoff Shaw’s right-wing bigotry or his corruption. And we don’t appreciate the support he gets from the Liberal Party generally, or the premier’s office specifically — such as the help he’s getting from Denis Napthine to draft his private member’s bill that will curb our right to access abortion. We say: Doctors and politicians can keep their morals to themselves. Our bodies, our right to decide! 12pm. Geoff Shaw’s office, 140 Young St, Frankston. Public meeting: Black and proud — racism in sport. On April 17, 1993, Indigenous AFL player Nicky Winmar raised his St Kilda jersey and pointed out the colour of his skin to the Collingwood fans that had taunted him throughout the match. That photograph, and his accompanying statement, 'I’m black and I’m proud to be black,' became an iconic moment in AFL history, forcing many in the sporting arena to analyse their attitude towards race. Author Gary Osmond assesses the legacy of this photograph in his book Black and Proud. Osmond examines what has changed, with a panel including Sean Gorman from the Centre for Aboriginal Studies, and host Angela Pippos. 6:15pm. The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale St, City. Thursday, February 13 Concert: Apology Day anniversary. Celebrate the anniversary of the apology to Australia’s Stolen Generations. Indigenous and non-Indigenous performers come together in a shared vision of unity for all Australians. Featuring: Blue King Brown; Archie Roach, Tim Rogers, Claire Bowditch, Christine Anu, Thelma Plumb, Horrorshow & Jimblah. 6-10pm. Sidney Myer Music Bowl, 21 Linlithgow Ave, City. Entry free. Friday, February 14 Rally: National Dingo Day. Rally to stop killing of dingoes and to ban the use of 1080 poison baits in Australia. 12 noon. State Parliament, Spring Street, City. Sustainable Living Festival’s great debate: Environmentalism is in denial. Are green groups are avoiding complete honesty about the extent to which climate change will affect human populations and other species? Do they lack the courage to tackle this giant challenge, fearing political isolation and the difficulty of the task of selling an unpalatable message to the public? Is the environment movement to blame for the inadequacy of the solutions currently being advocated? With video introduction by Bill McKibben. Speakers: Christine Milne, Clive Hamilton, Amanda McKenzie, Philip Sutton, Mark O'Connor and Drew Hutton. 7pm. Deakin Edge, Federation Square. $25/$20. Book tickets here. Saturday, February 15 Rally: Our wombs are not for sale, defend Section 8. We are opposed to the repeal of Section 8, or any rolling back of current Victorian abortion law (as touted by Geoff Shaw, and supported by the Liberal Party), and we want to make this loud and clear before a vote in parliament. We have heard that Geoff Shaw will try to introduce his Private Member’s Bill, repealing Section 8 of the Victorian abortion law (at the very least!), in one of the February sittings of parliament. This repeal means that if a doctor doesn’t 'believe in' abortion, they won’t have to refer women to doctors who will perform the procedure. They also won’t have to perform emergency abortions to save a woman’s life. 1pm. State Library, cnr Swanston & La Trobe Sts, City. Tuesday, February 18 Rally: Stop Napthine's silencing act. Speak up Victoria, while you still can! Oppose Napthine’s new draconian anti-right-to-protest laws! The government's new bill: (1) Removes protection for peaceful assembly; (2) Provides up to two years imprisonment for persons returning to a banned protest or picket; (3) Gives police and PSOs discretion to 'move on' protests. 10am. Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton South. March to Parliament House. For more info visit weareunion.org.au Wednesday, February 19 Book launch: A country too far. One of the most hotly debated and pressing moral issues in contemporary Australia surrounds the fate of asylum seekers. A new anthology of work from 27 of the nation’s finest writers examines all aspects of this complex topic. A Country Too Far features fiction, memoir, poetry and essays that provide an indispensable contribution to the national debate. 6:15pm. The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale St, City. This is a free event. Bookings are recommended. Friday, February 21 Fundraiser: Concert for the Tarkine. In 2014, is Australia the sort of country that puts an open-cut mine in a rainforest? It’s time to ramp up the Melbourne campaign to stop mining in the Tarkine. Come along to the launch of Save the Tarkine (Victoria) for a wonderful evening of music, and let us introduce you to the majesty of this remarkable place. Despite its world heritage significance, less than 5% of the Tarkine is protected as a national park and it is currently under attack from open-cut mining activity. 7pm. Thornbury Theatre, 859 High St, Thornbury. Saturday, February 22 Film screening: Dirty Wars.  Pre-DVD release screening for this award-winning documentary. Dirty Wars follows investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill, author of the international bestseller Blackwater, into the heart of America’s covert wars, from Afghanistan to Yemen, Somalia and beyond. 8:45pm. 106 Nicholson St, Coburg. Entry by donation (suggested: $15/$10) to raise money for the 2014 Swan Island Peace Convergence. NB: outdoor screening (BYO rugs, chairs, cushions). Saturday 22 February Concert: Almanac trail tour. In the summer of 1941, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Lee Hays and Millard Lampell — The Almanac Singers — embarked on a tour, singing labour songs at union halls in many US cities and towns. Folksingers George Mann and Rik Palieri have just re-enacted that tour, singing the same songs in the same US cities and towns as the 1941 Almanac Singers and they have now released a CD entitled The Almanac Trail. George is now touring Australia, and this is a great opportunity to hear one of the great labour folksingers of our time. In Melbourne, the Victorian Trade Union Choir will perform with George and in Geelong, the Geelong Trades Hall Choir will perform. 7:30pm. Meeting Room 1, ground floor, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton South. $10/$5. For more info ph Roger Smith 0438 302 061 or Jeannette Johanson 0400 004 427. Thursday, February 27 Film screening: 'Utopia', John Pilger’s film on Aboriginal Australia. Examines the worsening oppression of Aboriginal people in Australia.  An epic production by the Emmy and Bafta winning film-maker and journalist John Pilger. Utopia is a vast region in northern Australia and home to the oldest human presence on earth. 'This film is a journey into that secret country,' says Pilger. 'It will describe not only the uniqueness of the first Australians, but their trail of tears and betrayal and resistance —  from one utopia to another.' Trailer at: http://johnpilger.com/videos/utopia-trailer. (WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following program may contain images and voices of deceased persons.) Speakers: Vivian Malo (First Nations Liberation); Mick Bull (AMWU organiser who was involved in the 2010 union solidarity brigade that built a protest house in the Ampilatwatja community, a community that features in the film). 6:30pm. Maritime Union of Australia Hall, 46–54 Ireland St, West Melbourne (2 min from North Melbourne station). Organised by Green Left Weekly & First Nations Liberation. Entry free, bookings essential. To book: ph 9639 8622 or visithttp://www.trybooking.com/EFRC. Monday, March 3 Forum: Launch of Writers for Refugees. Join us for the launch of Writers for Refugees, a Melbourne-based group of writers, journalists and academics who are committed to standing up for refugee rights under the Abbott government. Speakers and readers include: Arnold Zable, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Abe Ape, Jeff Sparrow and Ali Alizadeh. 6pm. Bella Union Level 1, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton South. Entry by gold coin donation. Saturday, March 8 Rally: Celebrate International Womens Day, protest for equal rights. Come out on International Women's Day and continue the fight for equality: demand equal pay; defend our right to abortion. 1pm. State Library, 328 Swanston St, City. Initiated by the National Union of Students. Tuesday, February 18 Forum: 'We are one, but we are many'. Working towards a humane refugee policy. Speakers: Kon Karapanagiotidis (CEO & founder, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre); Vincent Long (auxiliary bishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne & Bishop for the Western Region; a former asylum seeker and refugee); Louise Newman (psychiatrist, Convenor of the Alliance of Health Professions for Asylum Seekers). 7:15pm. Geelong West Town Hall, 153 Pakington St, Geelong West. Organised by the Combined Refugee Action Group. For more info email CRAG. Supported by the City of Greater Geelong. Entry free. Supper provided. Friday, February 21 Red Cinema: Utopia — a film by John Pilger. (WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this program may contain images and voices of deceased persons.) One of the most extraordinary films about Australia. This is Utopia, an epic production by the Emmy and Bafta winning film-maker and journalist John Pilger. Utopia is a vast region in northern Australia and home to the oldest human presence on earth. 'This film is a journey into that secret country,' says Pilger. 'It will describe not only the uniqueness of the first Australians, but their trail of tears and betrayal and resistance —  from one utopia to another.' See trailer here. 6pm. Downstairs, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St, Geelong. Entry free. Presented by Socialist Alliance. For more info phone 5222 6900. Sunday, February 23 Concert: Almanac trail tour. In the summer of 1941, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Lee Hays and Millard Lampell — The Almanac Singers — embarked on a tour, singing labour songs at union halls in many US cities and towns. Folksingers George Mann and Rik Palieri have just re-enacted that tour, singing the same songs in the same US cities and towns as the 1941 Almanac Singers and they have now released a CD entitled The Almanac Trail. George is now touring Australia, and this is a great opportunity to hear one of the great labour folksingers of our time. In Geelong, the Geelong Trades Hall Choir will perform with George. 7pm. MUA Hall, 4 Gheringhap St, Geelong. $10/$5. For more info ph Jeannette Johanson 0400 004 427. Saturday, March 22 ALBURY Rally: Equal Love. 1pm. QEII Square, 538 Dean St, Albury Friends of the Earth's Anti-Nuclear & Clean Energy (ACE) collective. Meets every second Tuesday. FoE office, 312 Smith St, Collingwood. For meeting times & more info email Zin. Indigenous Social Justice Association. The Indigenous Social Justice Association was established in January 2005 campaigns to permanently stop Aboriginal deaths in custody. During 2013, ISJA will meet the first Thursday of every month. For more info visit ISJA. Melbourne Feminist Action Group. It's time to put women's rights back on the public agenda. We've started an open organising group and everyone's invited, from already existing women's rights groups and activist organisations, to women and men who may never have been involved in feminist action in their lives but just want to do something. For more info ph 0438 869 790 or email us. Quit Coal: No New Coal Power for Victoria. A Melbourne-based collective which campaigns against expansion of the coal industry in Victoria. We believe this is important because building new coal infrastructure locks in decades of dirty, old technology, when we should be moving towards clean, renewable energy. Quit Coal meets each Wednesday at 6pm, at FOE, 312 Smith St, Collingwood. For more info visit Quit Coal or email us. Refugee Action Collective. Established in 2000, RAC is a democratic, grassroots activist collective, representing a broad cross section of the community. It aims to mobilise opposition to Australia's inhuman refugee policies. For more info ph 0413 377 978 or visit RAC. Stop the East-West Link: Moreland Campaign Against the East-West Tunnel (MCAT) meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at the Temple Park Senior Citizens Centre, Hodgson St, Brunswick. For information contact Sue Bolton 0413 377 978; Michael Petit 0417 354 169; Riki Lane 0400 877 819. Yarra Campaign for Action on Transport (YCAT). For information on the campaign against the East-West Tunnel (pickets, meetings, info) visit YCAT. Recent articles from Green Left Weekly Victorian 'move on' laws to criminalise protesters Organic farmer Steve Marsh fights the GM monster Graffiti marks genocide on Australia Day How Australia steals East Timor's oil Check out Green Left TV: See Sea Shepherd's Jeff Hansen: Save the sharks! To subscribe to Green Left Weekly visit our secure online website for rates and payment or call our national hotline on 1800 634 206. Join us on Facebook. You can also contact us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Geelong: Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4.30pm, Fri 10am-4.30pm); ph 5222 6900. Links: 'Socialism for the 21st century' Links is an online journal which seeks to provide a forum for open and constructive dialogue between active socialists from different political traditions. It seeks to bring together those in the international left who are opposed to neoliberal economic and social policies, and reject the bureaucratic model of 'socialism' that arose in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Inspired by the unfolding socialist revolution in Venezuela, Links is a journal for 'Socialism of the 21st Century' and the discussions and debates flowing from that powerful example of socialist renewal. How we can use the Transitional Program today: a response to Socialist Alternative Forging a new movement: NUMSA and the shift in South Africa's politics France: Activist pressure forces truce within Front de Gauche Spain: Si, se puede! ‘White tide’ defeats Madrid health privatisation plan Socialist Alliance: Broad, non-sectarian, activist Socialist Alliance is a proud supporter of the Green Left Weekly project and contributes a regular column. Socialist Alliance is a broad, non-sectarian socialist party, dedicated to bringing together all those who want to resist the capitalist assault on our planet and its people and fight for a socialist society that puts people's needs before business profits. Anyone who agrees with the general approach of our policies is welcome to join and organisations are invited to affiliate. For more information visit Socialist Alliance or join us on Facebook. See our recent statements: Fight Abbott’s industrial secret police! Fight for land rights and justice for Aboriginal people Australia and other climate rogue states responsible for typhoon deaths Contact Socialist Alliance. Join with other socialists in the struggle. Melbourne: Visit us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Melbourne, Socialist Alliance meets on the first Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm, at the Resistance Centre. Geelong: Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4:30pm, Fri 10am-4:30pm); ph 5222 6900. Moreland Socialists Moreland Socialists is open to anyone (even if you live outside the area) who wants to work constructively to support Socialist Alliance councillor Sue Bolton and use her position to build up a stronger activist left presence in Moreland. In general, we meet monthly and alternate between Coburg and Fawkner. If you want to get involved in the group, email us at Socialist Alliance or phone Sue on 9639 8622 or 0413 377 978. For news and opinion visit Sue's Moreland Report or Facebook.

The Great Barrier Reef - God's great gift to this nation - has been made open season for developers & greedy money bags. Blasphemy!

Picture from here

I grew up in Bowen, married there, had my first child there.

When I married my husband, Joe Walsh,

my mother said I married half of Bowen - and I probably did.

So I lived beside the Great Barrier Reef at the top end

of the beautiful Whitsunday Islands.

It now appears that I live in a nation where vandals and visigoths

make impacting decisions with impunity.

We need the names of those who are allowing dangerous projects

which will impact on the reef.

We need thee names never to be forgotten.

When this sort of thing befalls our beloved Great Barrief Reef, 

we need to carve this names with disgust

on memorial boards along the communities of The Reef.

- Brigid Walsh aka Miss Eagle

~~~~~~~

If you were responsible for the future of one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, would you

• allow new mega ports to be built alongside it, including the largest coal port in the world?


• turn it into a shipping superhighway?


• allow millions of tonnes of dredging and then dump the spoil on its doorstep?

No, neither would I, but I was shocked to hear this is exactly what our political leaders (Federal and Queensland) are doing to the Great Barrier Reef. 
Bloody Idiots, I reckon.
If you agree with me, please share this message - for we shall surely have a long fight to stop this madness. And so we will need all the good and sensible people to join us in this fight.

I've just joined the Fight for the Reef... will you?
The rapid increase in developments planned in and around the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area means the future of the Reef is in danger.

There are a whole bunch of projects in the pipeline and if we don't do something about it now, our Reef and the lifestyle we love could be changed forever.

Will you join the fight today? Go to http://fightforthereef.org.au

Denis Wilson
"All conservation monitoring programs should contain well-defined trigger points for pre-planned action". Otherwise the "recovery plans for threatened species" are meaningless.

"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au

Newman is pressuring/pestering Abbott to give coal exports open slather on the Great Barrier Reef

From Denis at The Nature of Robertson:

This is not an annoying "we told you so" message.

Just read this and weep - for Queensland.

This is the real price of democracy.

Trouble is, it is all focussed on the Galilee Basin, which includes Bimblebox, and of course, the coal will have to be carted offshore via new coal ports, which means more traffic, more dredging in the Great barrier Reef, etc.

And as Brigid keeps telling me, Adani has a bad reputation for corruption in India. Why would they find themselves at home in Queensland?

Get out of our way on huge mines, Abbott told

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/get-out-of-our-way-on-huge-mines-abbott-told-20130911-2tks7.html#ixzz2edCm50AQ

Denis Wilson
"Always be Mindful of the Moment of Beauty"

"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au

Querying the effect of the ministerial changes on environmental issues

Denis Wilson writes on the Ministerial change in responsibility for Environment, Heritage and Climate Change

This article.centres on his Climate Change responsibilities.
But he also is running the Environment and Heritage areas.
Does he have any knowledge thereof?
Who knows?
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/7/1/policy-politics/butler-enters-climate-cauldron?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=336645&utm_campaign=cs_daily&modapt

He is from Adelaide, and has had responsibility for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion. I understand he was well thought of for his command of issues in his previous portfolio.
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=HWK

But the details of the EPBC Act, and Great Barrier Reef , etc, as well as Climate Change will be very demanding. His first public task will be to deal with the pressure to dump the Carbon Tax and switch to a Market Forces mechanism for setting a price on Carbon.

Peter Garrett was scrupulously careful on the details of EPBC legislation.
Tony Burke was far less careful (he approved 40,000 CSG wells in Queensland in his first few weeks in the office).
Lets hope this new Minister gets across the issues quickly.
I fear Kevin will dominate on issues to do with the Barrier Reef, cattle grazing in National Parks in Qld, etc.

Wishing him all the best.

Denis Wilson
Thou shall not steal from future generations by impoverishing or poisoning the Earth.

"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au

Maria Riedl and Jon Altman on the Wild Rivers of Queensland and LNP plans

Picture from here

Maria writes to Minister Burke to protest Queensland government intentions to regulate wild rivers...

5 March 2013

Dear Minister Burke,

I would like to draw your attention to yet again Queensland government intentions to regulate wild rivers. Their actions would impact on International agreements such as CAMBA JAMBA ROKAMBA and RAMSAR wetlands as well as the aquifers, other important but not listed wetlands and areas which depend on the free flowing, unregulated systems and other states.

This is madness on the part of the blinkered Queensland government and totally disregards the impacts any regulation of these rivers would cause. There needs to be a referral to the commonwealth. There needs to be a strategic assessment immediately on the impact of separated proposals as well. Not only would the ecological diversity and biological health of matters dependent upon these free wild rivers but what about the associated infrastructure, the changes to direction of flows, the alteration of inflows to other rivers, wetlands, aquifers such as the GBR, roads, dams, pipelines...

Perhaps it is time to take a very microscopic look at the GBR and a strategic assessment of it before we have yet again the terrible Impacts as in the MBD replicated.

Queensland seems to be rushing, without referrals and without consultation with other states on the impacts of regulating wild rivers.

Aren't we ALL living in Australia, or is Queensland a separate country that does not care or consider impacts on the entire system of the GBR, the Lake Eyre Basin and even impacts on the MDB?

I ask the you ask for an explanation and that you are made aware of ANY changes to these wild rivers immediately.

Expansion of mining and other water extractive industries must not be allowed if they alter our natural environment in a manner that WILL have a cumulative and singular impact. Surely the health of our river systems, our Basins is more important than government's and mining companies and irrigators rush to make more dollars.

We are talking yet again about the Precautionary Principle and the Principle of intergenerational equity as highlighted in the EPBC Act.

As the Minister for the Environment you have the responsibility to ensure that states are adhering to the EPBC Act and international conventions and agreements that Australia has signed up for. Near enough is simply not good enough.

Again, I would also ask that the Commonwealth does not pass the EPBC Act baton to states at the next COAG meeting on this subject. States have vested interest. Prime examples are Queensland and their weakening of environmental laws to allow  so called "cutting of green tape or red tape". Victoria is another state that is on the process of doing the same, as is Western Australia. Handing over the control of EPBC Act to these will have a detrimental effect on matters protected under the act as well as all of Australia because we KNOW that cumulative impacts of single actions on each state will be unacceptable in their intensity.

The Commonwealth has a role to ensure that states do NOT weaken laws that have been. Implemented by the states to ensure their compliance with the EPBC Act. This is exactly what they are doing in preparation of huge huge huge expansion of mining, for minerals for water, expansion of cotton, of other crops that are no sustainable on a continent that has such a shortage of water. Water must be shared in a balanced manner with the environment and not everything is about money!!!

Have a close look at what states are sneakily, without consultation, doing to National parks!!!! Cattle in them, prospecting, thinning or logging, hunting, developments, more roads, mining etc

We need a rethink on what a "National" park is and what they are setup for. It shouldn't be that single activities are approved piecemeal wi strategic assessments!

I also have concerns about the Tarkine and your failure to list the 430,000ha as recommended. An opportunity Minister Burke.

If there will be a change of government later this year perhaps this presents you (at the moment) with an unprecedented opportunity to make decisions that are nation building, such as listing the the entire area of the Tarkine as recommended, as ensuring that the EPBC Act is not passed to the states and rejigging the EPBC Act to include cumulative impacts, stronger strategic assessments, climate change and...

You have a once in a lifetime opportunity, please use it as it was used in the Franklin Dam listing. You can if you have the will. Please, this is about the future of our natural environment which is already degraded and in dire peril from many many fronts.

Regards

Maria Riedl

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Further reading
SA Govt urged to fight  Qld's Wild Rivers change

Overturn , axe and bury:  the LNP and  Queensland's Wild Rivers Act

Wild Rivers and Indigenous economic development in Queensland

Threatening the environment with coal operations - Part 2

More from Denis Wilson of The Nature of Robertson:

At least some groups are speaking out against this decision by Tony Burke.

I have to wonder why the Barcaldine Mayor, who says this: We've seen such a mess in the Bowen Basin in places like Blackwater and other places - we've got a blank canvas, we've got a whole new ball game here - would still support this new and larger development. 

Is he naive, stupid or corrupt or any other alternative you can suggest. I just don't get it.

Denis Wilson

Picture from here

Alpha coal mine 'devastating' for reef

By William Rollo

Video: Alpha coal project gets green light (7pm TV News QLD)

Related Story: $7bn Alpha coal mine gets approval

Related Story: Rinehart's $6.4b mine wins conditional approval

Related Story: Newman slams 'rogue' Burke in reef mine spat

Related Story: Mine stoush threatens future projects: councils

Related Story: Burke slams 'shambolic' reef mine approval

Map: Alpha 4724

Environmentalists and farmers have criticised the Federal Government's approval of the Alpha coal and rail project in central Queensland.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has approved the multi-billion dollar project in the Galilee Basin, after four years of negotiations.

The Federal Government took over the responsibility for approving the project in May, saying the Queensland coordinator-general's conditions were inadequate.

The project has now been given the green light.

Peter Anderson from rural lobby group AgForce says landholders' concerns have been ignored.

"We were hoping that the Minister himself or his advisers making the decision would visit landholders and hear their concerns and we're bitterly disappointed that hasn't happened," he said.

"Landholders haven't been consulted and I have personally written to Minister Burke and haven't received a response."

'Shambolic'

Greenpeace says the project could jeopardise the Great Barrier Reef.

Georgina Woods from Greenpeace says the Federal Government criticised the state's handling of the project but the 19 environmental conditions placed on it still do not go far enough.

"It was shambolic then and it's still shambolic now," she said.

"We don't think that either government has given due consideration to the devastating environmental impacts this mine presents."

The North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC) says approval of the coal development and the rail link to Abbot Point is a sad outcome for the Great Barrier Reef.

NQCC spokeswoman Wendy Tubman says the caveats cannot guarantee the health of the World Heritage area.

"What we see over and over again is a lovely environmental management plan produced and it is worth, to be honest, diddly squat because it just sits on a shelf and no-one takes any notice of it as far as we can see," she said.

Mr Burke says the reef will be protected and the assessment process was rigorous.

The conditions include developing a water quality management program to minimise the effects of run-off and coal dust on the reef.

Jobs

Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Jenny Whitney says she believes the local tourism industry, which relies on the reef, will not be jeopardised by the mining project.

"I'm quite confident that the federal and state governments, who are the ones with the authority to impose conditions, are looking at our interests and ensuring that we are sustainable for tourism and industry and keeping that in balance," she said.

A western Queensland mayor says massive coal mines being planned in the Galilee Basin may help improve social services in the central west.

Barcaldine Mayor Rob Chandler says Alpha is one of several proposed in the basin and the development may help the community attract a permanent doctor and a paramedic.

He says thousands of jobs will be created.

"They seem to think they'll get the workforce, predominantly from within Australia - I haven't heard of about bringing in overseas workers for the construction phase but it is a lot of bodies on the ground," he said.

"We've seen such a mess in the Bowen Basin in places like Blackwater and other places - we've got a blank canvas, we've got a whole new ball game here."

First posted 10 hours 31 minutes ago

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