The Greens have slammed the Morrison Government for its relentless destruction of the Great Barrier Reef, after it tried to remove reference to a 1.5C global warming limit in a new climate change policy for World Heritage sites.

The Morrison Government also lobbied for conversations about World Heritage sites damaged by climate change – including the Great Barrier Reef – to be put on hold when the climate change policy is debated at a UNESCO meeting in Paris scheduled in two weeks’ time.

The LNP has gagged debate on a bill to stop the destructive fossil fuel project PEP-11, despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Liberal MPs Lucy Wicks, Jason Falinski, Trent Zimmerman and Dave Sharma having all voiced opposition to the project.

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, said:

“Coastal communities right around the nation are opposing offshore fossil fuel projects in this critical time of climate emergency.

The Greens have slammed the Morrison Government for upping its assault on lutruwita/Tasmania’s oceans and waterways. 
 
Quotes attributable to Greens Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, and Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Peter Whish-Wilson:
 
“Make no mistake today’s announcement is the unofficial start of Scott Morrison’s election campaign.
 
“This is clearly sabre-rattling, preparing Australia for a khaki election and designed to be a distraction from the fact this Government is plagued with scandal and corruption.
 

The Greens have slammed the Morrison Government for politicising science in an attempt to deny the dangerous decline of the Great Barrier Reef. 
 
Documents obtained by the ABC under Freedom of Information laws reveal the Morrison Government coerced an independent science agency to rush the release of a major scientific report.

Another whale is separated from its pod and suffering after being entangled in a deadly shark net which it was forced to drag for kilometres before tiring from exhaustion near Snapper Rocks in Queensland. 

The Greens have slammed the Morrison Government for the desperate measures it has taken to avoid UNESCO listing the Great Barrier Reef as "In Danger".

While Scott Morrison attends G7 and the world plans to transition away from fossil fuels the Australian Government has made a mockery of itself by inviting oil and gas companies to exploit 80,000km2 of new offshore acreage, to help with a “gas led recovery”.
 
Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Peter Whish-Wilson, said Australia has no environmental credibility left under the Morrison Government.
 
“Today’s news that 80,000km2 of our ocean has been handed over for oil gas exploration exposes the Prime Minister’s attendance at the G7 a complete travesty.
 

The Senate Inquiry into seismic testing has tabled its final report today. 

For the first time ever, the Federal Parliament heard evidence that united fishing, environmental, scientific and community stakeholders in their concerns surrounding the ongoing risks of oil and gas exploration in our oceans.

The Greens have called for action following the death of two whales which have been "dislodged" from the bottom of a Royal Australian Navy ship as it berthed in the US.
 
Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Peter Whish-Wilson:
 
“The Australian Navy are understandably disheartened by this tragic event.
 
“This is a timely reminder to all of us of our direct and indirect impacts on the oceans and precious marine life.
 

The ‘Implementation of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation Partnership’ audit report has confirmed longstanding concerns from the Greens of a dodgy $443.3 million government grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF).

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:

“The audit report confirms long-standing concerns relating to the proficiency of the GBRF and its capacity to deliver on the grants objectives.

“The GBRF is essentially a private organisation with no track record in managing large scientific programs.