Abbott Point coal hub: environment must not come second to coal exports

Queensland jobs at risk - Greens (Bigpond News) "The Greens say billions in revenue and thousands of jobs are at risk if the environment comes second to coal exports. Australian Greens leader Bob Brown says any expansion of the Abbot Point coal hub near Bowen in north Queensland could see world heritage waters off the Great Barrier Reef affected. Dr Brown says such an expansion would see more coal ships travelling through the area putting Australia's 60 billion dollar tourism hub at risk."


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Environment before coal: Brown (Daily Mercury) 
"FEARS that cleaner coal requirements in Queensland would prompt China to source coal from elsewhere were akin to a heroin dealer’s lament, Greens Leader Bob Brown said yesterday. Senator Brown said the environment needed to be put before coal exports to ensure the sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef and the 63,000 jobs dependent upon it. He said the argument countries like China could dump Australia in favour of other coal markets should hold little weight. “It doesn’t stand up. This is where government has to make a stand in the interest of the wider economy and small business. And what is being dumped here by the Gillard government is small business. Locally (based), strong, small business putting its money back into jobs and the local economy.” Senator Brown said a proposed expansion of the Abbot Point coal terminal would destroy important wetlands and adversely impact the Great Barrier Reef if it went ahead. Senator Brown said mining giants should be required to inject more funds into clean energy research to ensure the longevity of Australia’s mining industry. “Those economies that are built on environmental breakthrough technology are going to be the wealthiest economies in the world in this coming century,” he said.  


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Abbot Point coal-hub under Senate scrutiny (Greens MPs) 
"Massive expansion plans for the Abbot Point coal export facility near Bowen, Queensland, will undergo Senate scrutiny on environment, economic and employment grounds, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Mackay today. "Clive Palmer and Gina Rinehart may urge Canberra to back massive public funding of the rail and port plans which are part of the proposed future export of more than 200 mega tonnes of coal per annum. But that's the equivalent of more than one quarter of all Australian greenhouse gas emissions due to come out of China via Abbot Point," Senator Brown said. "The plans threaten vast wetlands and migratory bird habitat, dugong feeding grounds and the adjacent Great Barrier Reef." "Australians should know all the costs involved," Senator Brown said."