Today’s State Party Report on the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area shows the Australian Government has failed to meet key UNESCO recommendations to keep the Reef off the World Heritage in Danger list, prompting the Australian Greens to announce they will move amendments to federal environmental laws to enforce the recommendations and protect the Reef.

“The Australian Government deserves a fail mark on their Reef homework,” said Australian Greens Senator for Queensland and Environment spokesperson Larissa Waters.

The Australian Greens today released new official figures on dredging and dumping in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area which show our Reef continues to be treated as a coal and gas highway and a rubbish tip, risking UNESCO listing the Reef as World Heritage in Danger.

The Australian Greens say closer review of Bight Petroleum’s plans to explore for oil off Kangaroo Island will make it clear the action poses an unacceptable risk to the environment and the Island’s future.

Environment Minister Tony Burke has declared seismic testing off the coast of Kangaroo Island a controlled action, meaning that the project will require appropriate assessment and approval from the Commonwealth Government. 

Australian Greens Marine spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert says allowing oil and gas exploration off the coast of South Australia's Kangaroo Island would contradict other Government environmental programs and put endangered animals at risk.

Environment Minister Tony Burke is expected to announce his decision on a proposal to commence seismic testing at the Kangaroo Island Canyon and Pools this week. Bight Petroleum intends to undertake seismic tests in the coming months and start drilling in 2014.

The Australian Greens were pleased that the Federal Court today dismissed Victoria’s bid to overturn the Commonwealth Government’s ban on cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park.

“The Baillieu Government needs to accept the umpire’s decision and give up on this issue,” said Victorian Senator, Dr Richard Di Natale.

“The Greens stood against cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park from the beginning – Adam Bandt introduced a bill to ban the practice then Tony Burke stepped in to did so.

Well! It's official - years scoot by when you pack lots into them. "Yesterday" I was reflecting on 2011. And here I am, looking back on 2012, amazed to consider what the Australian Greens have achieved this year.

In take-out-the-trash week, Environment Minister, Tony Burke, has today announced the first step in the trashing of the world renowned Tarkine wilderness.

"We can now expect Minister Burke to approve several more mines, and excise their footprint from any Heritage listing, once again putting short term profits ahead of the long-term interests of the Tarkine and the communities who depend on it," Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

A Galaxy Poll released by the Australian Greens today showed strong community opposition to the Federal Government's plan to give away their responsibility to protect World Heritage sites from mining and development to state governments.

"The poll results show that a clear majority of Australians support national protection for our World Heritage sites, like the Great Barrier Reef, and don't want this left solely up to state governments," Senator Waters said.