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Greens call on Labor to shut down seismic blasting off WA coast

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: 

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Restoring lutruwita/Tasmania’s oceans on the political agenda in Canberra 

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:

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Greens call on Plibersek to act on global leadership in oceans protection promise

The Greens have called on Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to take a leading role in convening an emergency meeting with UN member states after a fifth effort to pass a global agreement to protect the world's oceans and marine life has failed. 

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

“Tanya Plibersek promised Australia would take a global leadership role in ocean protection, and now is the exact time for her to act on that promise. 

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Nets out now

After the tenth whale has today been entangled in Queensland shark nets, the Greens are again calling on the state government for an urgent review of Queensland’s system of shark nets and drum lines.

Lines attributable to Senator Larissa Waters, Greens leader in the Senate

"Nets and drumlines are indiscriminate killers of protected wildlife, and the evidence shows non-lethal measures are more effective at protecting swimmers.

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Ocean acreage release demonstrates why Labor cannot be trusted to meet its own weak climate target

Labor has made a mockery of its own weak climate target by offering up 46,758 square kilometres of new ocean acreage for fossil fuel companies to exploit in a time of climate emergency.

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

“It’s Christmas Day for fossil fuel companies who have just been handed a big dirty gift: more of our oceans for them to run roughshod in. 

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Greens urge Labor to recommit opposition to PEP-11

The Greens urge Labor to publicly recommit its opposition to PEP-11 after revelations of the former PM’s extraordinary intervention to kill the unpopular project.

Reports that Scott Morrison secretly swore himself in as resources minister and used the power to roll his own frontbencher over PEP-11 have led to the project’s proponent indicating it may seek to overturn the government’s decision.

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Great Barrier Reef survival = no more oil and gas

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. 

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Fisheries buyout from climate change indictment on federal government

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.

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Kick Morrison out to save the Reef

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:

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Kick Morrison out to save the Reef

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:

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