New QLD gov appoints minister for the Reef

Looks like Labor means business about saving the Great Barrier Reef. Queenslanders have spoken in the election that they don't want fuckin great coal ship going through it. Adani's Reef wrecking is looking more and more unlikely with the new gov solidly moving in favour of protecting the Reef, appointing for the first time ever a minister for the Great Barrier Reef.

The newly sworn in Queensland Labor government has named Steven Miles – the “local dad” ALP candidate for Mount Coot-Tha – as the state’s first Minister for the Great Barrier Reef. 

The new role in the Queensland cabinet marks a distinct departure from the previous Campbell Newman-led Coalition government, whose singular focus on developing the state’s coal resource effectively wiped climate, the environment and clean energy off the policy map – and quite probably cost Newman the election. 

And in light of the Abbott government’s failure to appoint either a climate change-dedicated minister, or a minister for science, the Queensland appointment offers a refreshing departure from federal politics, too. 

“Having a Minister for the Reef is an important signal that saving our national icon is a priority for this new administration,” said WWF-Australia CEO Dermot O’Gorman in response to the news. 

Also names in the new cabinet is newly-elected Mark Bailey, a former school teacher who will become minister for energy, as well as for roads and ports, thrusting him in the middle of the debate about the electricity markets, coal port expansions, and coal developments. 

According to the WWF, Minister Miles will be responsible for delivering ALP environmental commitments including: a ban on dumping dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area; an 80 per cent reduction in pollution run-off into the Reef by 2025; and the reinstatement of key legal safeguards. more

I feel very happy about that. There was a large electronic graffiti campaign against Newman over the reef. Quite likely it's very true that the prospective destruction of the Reef lost him the election, it being as close as it was at the end.