Abbott's Pledge to Gina Rinehart is Destroying Barrier Reef
by staff report via snowy - SMH Thursday, Jul 24 2014, 1:58pm
international / prose / post

Tony Abbott sold his soul the night of the pre-election 'Gala Dinner' (use search box in left Column) thrown for him by plutocrats Murdoch and Rinehart, but duplicitous and treacherous Abbott had no idea the "coal dust" would be kicked back into HIS face so soon. The following story emphasises Abbott's complete servitude to the singularly driven wealthy elite and his total disregard for the nation, its people, and the environment. Abbott LIED his way into Office and remains PM under false pretences; I am no constitutional lawyer but surely safety provisions must have been written into law that allow for the removal of unrepresentative, LYING and destructive leaders from Office. The nation must act quickly to remove zealot Abbott from office before he ruins everything -- nothing good could issue from something so vile, rotten and treacherous as Tony Abbott.

Abbott and Rinehart at gala dinner

Coal dust "spread across Barrier Reef"

Coal dust has spread throughout the Great Barrier Reef and exceeds toxic levels near the shore, a Senate inquiry has heard.

Senators are touring Queensland this week to examine how the Australian and Queensland governments manage the reef, as UNESCO threatens to list it as a World Heritage site in danger.

James Cook University (JCU) Professor Terry Hughes says a "damning" new report from the university shows coastal sediments offshore of the Hay Point coal port are contaminated with coal residues that exceed Australian guidelines.

Professor Hughes, who is also the director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, said the report also found coal dust had spread hundreds of kilometres from ports.

"It has now accumulated everywhere on the Great Barrier Reef, not just near dredging sites or near the ports themselves and it is exceeding toxic levels in near-shore locations," he told the inquiry, which sat in Townsville on Wednesday.

"I think this new evidence is sufficient that recently issued permits to undertake dredging should be revoked."

Professor Hughes said the environmental impact process - carried out by proponents during the planning stages of development - was "deeply flawed" and should be reformed.

He does not believe the impact of dredging is being addressed adequately and wants all projects banned within the marine park.

The Queensland Resources Council defended dredging projects when it gave evidence to the inquiry on Monday, including a three million cubic tonne project off Abbot Point, north of Hay Point.

Chief executive Michael Roche said the impacts were localised and temporary, and would not affect the long-term health of the reef.

© 2014 Fairfax Media

Rinehart holding exhibit 'A' from her QLD coal mine

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/coal-dust-spread-across-barrier-reef-20140723-zw4wr.html