New research identifying greater dangers for whales from the Government’s plans for increased fossil fuel exports should cause the federal Environment Minister to review existing approvals and press pause on further approvals for controversial port expansions in Queensland, said the Australian Greens today.

This latest research indicates areas close to ports marked for large expansions as critical for humpback whales, and will be verified with further aerial studies to be released by the end of the year.

The devil is in the detail for Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef, with the Government’s failure to extend the successful $200 million Reef Rescue program in this year’s Budget or to review the mass dredging plan which has caused ‘extreme concern’ within the international community.

The Australian Greens welcomed the small increase of $8 million for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) but said it failed to address the current threats to the Reef posed by mass dredging and dumping.

Less than three weeks after Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell conceded that Gladstone harbour was a mess, he has given Gladstone Ports Corporation a free pass to increase the turbidity churned up in the water by their mass dredging operations.

“The ongoing environmental crisis in Gladstone harbour is a disaster for the Gladstone community, an embarrassment for Queensland and a national disgrace,” Australian Greens environment spokesperson Senator Larissa Waters said.

The Greens' 2012 Too Precious To Lose Campaign.

The Greens remain focussed on providing stability in the parliament in order to continue working to support people and protect the environment for now and for the future.

"We will not be giving in to Tony Abbott's push for instability and superficial politics over issues that are critical to the well-being of Australians every day," Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"We remain focussed on the Budget, which is only 9 days away.

World Heritage Day is a wake-up call to save the internationally renowned Great Barrier Reef from the devastating impacts of mass dredging, dumping and shipping for fossil fuel exports which the Federal Government’s strategic assessment won’t fix, the Australian Greens said today.

The Great Barrier Reef was globally recognised for its outstanding environmental values and unique biodiversity as one of the first places in Australia to be inscribed onto the World Heritage List in 1981.

Senator WRIGHT: I move:

That the Senate-

(a) notes that:
(i) up to 90 per cent of marine life within the Great Australian Bight is found nowhere else on Earth,
(ii) the Great Australian Bight is an important feeding and migration area to approximately 30 species of whales and dolphins, including sperm whales, beaked whales, southern right whales and the critically endangered blue whale, and
(iii) less than 1 per cent of this area is protected from oil and gas operations;

The Government needs to stop putting the interests of big companies ahead of the protection of Australia's unique environment and marine life, Greens Senator for South Australia, Penny Wright, said.

Senator Wright moved a motion in the Senate today calling on the Government to cease issuing oil and gas exploration leases in the Great Australian Bight until after final decisions have been made on the establishment of marine sanctuaries. Currently less than 1 per cent of the Bight is protected from oil and gas operations but it is home to many species found nowhere else on earth.

Parliament today rejected Rob Oakeshott's motion to disallow regulations on renewable energy that form a key part of the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee's agreement from last July.

The regulations, which Mr Oakeshott sought to disallow but which are now law, ensure that native forest furnaces cannot be counted as producing renewable energy - a major win for the climate and for protection of forests and wildlife habitat.