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: 

The Federal Government has an important role to play in protecting endangered marine life killed by lethal shark nets and drumlines deployed by the states. It also has a significant role in driving national investment in emerging shark risk mitigation measures to protect ocean goers. 

Unfortunately the Morrison Government has deliberately avoided taking any responsibility and has shown no leadership in this critical matter of public interests. 

The NSW Government’s decision to ban offshore oil and gas exploration has been welcomed by the Greens, who have commended the coastal communities that have fought tirelessly for the win.

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

“Today’s decision by the NSW Government is momentous - but this win belongs to all those ocean-goers who have rallied hard on this matter for years in a bid to protect their  local marine ecosystems and avoid irreversible changes to the Earth’s climate. 

Did you see the news that broke last week following the Greens questioning in the Senate? The State and Federal Liberal Governments have taken the first steps towards establishing fish farms in Commonwealth waters, with a trial site selected just 3-6 nautical miles off the coast of Burnie. If successful, this trial could lead to the industrialisation of our seas in Bass Strait, waters that are already under pressure from climate change, pollution, habitat loss and oil and gas drilling.  

A controversial project to expand salmon farming into Commonwealth waters has come under fire from the Greens for its lack of transparency and consultation.

It comes following revelations that Tasmanian and Federal Governments have chosen their “offshore” salmon farm trial site just 3-6 nautical miles directly off the coast of Burnie and opened a public consultation process without informing anyone.

The Morrison Government has responded six years late to a critical Senate Inquiry report on the regulation of the fin-fish aquaculture industry in Tasmania, staging the response slyly alongside