GetUp has raised, purely through donations, $300,000 to fight for the Great Barrier Reef in court and save it being dredged for an expanded Abbott point coal port. They funded the first challenge to the dredging, a court case which involves the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority giving the OK for dredging despite concerns within it about the impact of such dredging.
The second and latest case involves Lieberal environment minister himself, Greg Hunt.
Led by the Mackay Conservation Group, represented by the Environmental Defenders' Office Queensland, the challenge focuses on Mr Hunt's approval of the project last year.
While that approval was endorsed officially by the marine park authority, which also had to assess the project, internal documents released earlier this month revealed concerns were expressed within the marine park authority about the project's likely environmental impacts.
The case will argue that Minister Hunt had "failed in his obligation" to protect the reef's World Heritage Area in approving the dredging and dumping proposal.
Conservation group co-ordinator Ellen Roberts said the case could have legal implications for developments at State Government-owned ports along the Queensland coastline, and the key arguments had not been tested before in the court.
"The world will be watching this case," Ms Roberts said.
"The World Heritage Committee has expressed concern over the Australian and Queensland governments' efforts to protect the reef, particularly from mega-port development and the associated dredging and dumping.
"Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act states that the Australian Government must protect World Heritage properties," she said. more
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