The Greens call on the Labor Government to immediately shut down plans for seismic blasting that could impact the Mermaid Reef and Rowley Shoals Marine Parks - which the Australian Government and the West Australian Government recognise as ‘one of the most remote and pristine marine areas in the world’. 

Quotes attributable to Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson: 

The Greens have today succeeded in gaining support from all sides of politics to initiate a long overdue Senate inquiry into the spread of invasive long-spined sea urchins that are ravaging lutruwita/Tasmania and Victoria’s coastlines and fisheries.

The inquiry will look into how to restore critical habitat such as lutruwita/Tasmania’s giant kelp forests which have been lost to urchins and other pressures.

Quotes attributable to Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans and Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson:

The Greens welcome reports of record coral recovery on parts of the Great Barrier Reef but warn the Government not to jeopardise its survival by supporting more oil and gas. 

Comments attributable to Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:

“The Greens absolutely welcome reports of coral recovery on the Great Barrier Reef, however we can’t overlook that the fast-growing corals responsible for an increase in coral cover are also those most at risk from marine heatwaves and pest species. 

In an unprecedented intervention by the federal government fisheries permits will be bought-out for the first time in Australia’s history because of climate change and environmental factors. 

In what was described as a  necessary but “shocking” development by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, the federal government will spend $20m to buy out vessel permits in the south-east trawl fishery because the climate crisis is affecting population numbers of some species, making current fishing levels unsustainable.

The Greens say confirmation in the Reef Snapshot: Summer 2021-22 of the sixth mass coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef lays bare the Morrison Government’s near-decade of failure on climate action.  

The Snapshot confirms the Reef has suffered the fourth mass bleaching event since 2016, and the first in La Nina conditions, with 91% of surveyed areas showing signs of bleaching.

Lines attributable to Greens deputy leader and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters:

The Greens have called on the Morrison Government to intervene and rule out using explosives on protected seals during its three-year trial of fish farms in Commonwealth waters.  

The call comes following the release of Government data which revealed Huon Aquaculture used more than 8057 underwater explosives against seals in the 15 months to the end of March.

Fossil fuel corporation 3D Oil has been exposed divulging to investors that it will commence drilling for its next cash bonanza off the coast of King Island next year. 

Managing Director of 3D Oil Noel Newell told investors “We are planning to drill in 2023 with Conoco [Phillips].”

The permit - T/49P - covers an area of 4,960 km2 in water depths of less than 100m. 

Quotes attributable to Greens Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson: