We shouldn’t have to remind the Minister for the Environment that he is in office to protect our natural treasures, writes Bob Middleton.
July 26, 2014
I AM asking myself what we are doing here outside Greg Hunt's electorate office in Hastings on this wintery Friday afternoon.
By my head count, we are a gathering of some 120 and we’re here to remind the Minister for the Environment that he is in office to protect, among other things, our Great Barrier Reef, not to allow people to trash it.
It's unthinkable that we should have to do this.
GetUp spokesman Sam Regester is down from Sydney for the occasion. He welcomes us and, with Ben Pearson of Greenpeace, proceeds to outline the horror story.
Adani Mining - Coal Mines Company India proposes to develop a coal mine in the north Galilee Basin, the Carmichael Mine, which will produce an estimated 60 million tonnes of coal a year.
To do so, Adani needs to dredge and dump an estimated three million tonnes of sludge and sand onto the reef to allow thousands of coal ships access to the world's biggest coal port on the coastline. The mine will have an operating life of about 90 years.
Sam tells us that last time Adani built a port it destroyed the very conservation area it promised to protect.
Another investigation by the anti-corruption ombudsman of Karnataka, a state in India, found Adani was involved in large-scale illegal exports of iron ore, resulting in "huge" economic losses to the government. The report noted: "The officials of Port Department, Customs, Police, KSPCB, CRZ, Mines, Local politicians and others are involved in receiving the bribe money from M/s. Adani Enterprises."
Doesn’t sound much of a recommendation, does it.
The law states the Minister may consider the history of the proponent, but does not have to. The sad part is that in giving his first-round approval Minister Hunt chose not to do so.
Mr Hunt wasn’t present yesterday. Sam tells us that a member of his staff may be out to address the group and, we presume, to answer questions. This doesn't happen.
Esther Gleixner from Flinders bravely volunteers to don the Nemo suit for the photo shoot. The head piece comes without eye slits so Nemo has to be led gently by the fin into the front row.
After an hour the rally comes to an end with a robust group chant of “SAVE OUR REEF” and Sam re-enters Mr Hunt's office to seek additional information.
Meanwhile, the Minister continues to ponder his decision. In the next week the MP for Flinders is due to approve or reject Adani's Carmichael Mine.
His finger is hovering over the button.
I AM asking myself what we are doing here outside Greg Hunt's electorate office in Hastings on this wintery Friday afternoon.
By my head count, we are a gathering of some 120 and we’re here to remind the Minister for the Environment that he is in office to protect, among other things, our Great Barrier Reef, not to allow people to trash it.
It's unthinkable that we should have to do this.
GetUp spokesman Sam Regester is down from Sydney for the occasion. He welcomes us and, with Ben Pearson of Greenpeace, proceeds to outline the horror story.
Adani Mining - Coal Mines Company India proposes to develop a coal mine in the north Galilee Basin, the Carmichael Mine, which will produce an estimated 60 million tonnes of coal a year.
To do so, Adani needs to dredge and dump an estimated three million tonnes of sludge and sand onto the reef to allow thousands of coal ships access to the world's biggest coal port on the coastline. The mine will have an operating life of about 90 years.
Sam tells us that last time Adani built a port it destroyed the very conservation area it promised to protect.
Another investigation by the anti-corruption ombudsman of Karnataka, a state in India, found Adani was involved in large-scale illegal exports of iron ore, resulting in "huge" economic losses to the government. The report noted: "The officials of Port Department, Customs, Police, KSPCB, CRZ, Mines, Local politicians and others are involved in receiving the bribe money from M/s. Adani Enterprises."
Doesn’t sound much of a recommendation, does it.
The law states the Minister may consider the history of the proponent, but does not have to. The sad part is that in giving his first-round approval Minister Hunt chose not to do so.
Mr Hunt wasn’t present yesterday. Sam tells us that a member of his staff may be out to address the group and, we presume, to answer questions. This doesn't happen.
Esther Gleixner from Flinders bravely volunteers to don the Nemo suit for the photo shoot. The head piece comes without eye slits so Nemo has to be led gently by the fin into the front row.
After an hour the rally comes to an end with a robust group chant of “SAVE OUR REEF” and Sam re-enters Mr Hunt's office to seek additional information.
Meanwhile, the Minister continues to ponder his decision. In the next week the MP for Flinders is due to approve or reject Adani's Carmichael Mine.
His finger is hovering over the button.
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