Australians should be offended by the cheap politics being played by Labor on the protection of the Great Barrier Reef.
It was the previous Labor Governments at a Federal and State level which were touting the development of mega ports along the reef.
It was under Labor in 2011 that the World Heritage Committee first raised alarm bells about the health of the reef.
But while Labor had the chance to act, they did nothing.
Instead, Mark Butler and Tanya Plibersek throw cheap shots from the sidelines in Opposition but ignore their own failings.
In the past twelve months the Coalition has delivered the most significant change to the protection of the reef in 100 years. Unlike Labor who did nothing, we have listened and responded to the World Heritage Committee.
We have gone even further and announced that there will be a ban on the disposal of all future capital dredging proposals in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park – and we’re backing this policy with legislation.
Labor is playing catch up and should be embarrassed by their failures.
We would encourage Mark Butler and Tanya Plibersek to join with the Australian community and the Government in working to ensure the reef will be there for generations to come.
(ENDS)