Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to read to the parliament a letter sent to the Prime Minister by my constituents:

Dear Mr Turnbull,

Our names are Clara Nutt and Rachel Nutt.

We are eight years old, and we live in Melbourne. We think the idea to put more ports near the Great Barrier Reef should not be allowed.

The Great Barrier Reef is already suffering from coral bleaching due to global warming and digging deeper channels for the big ships will make the waters even worse.

A healthy reef needs clean water. Even if the reef grows back, it will take hundreds of years. We personally think that the government should be doing more to help the reef.

Thank you.

This letter was accompanied by a petition signed by 64 members of the Ascot Vale Uniting Church congregation calling on Australia's leaders to stop the Adani coalmine that is putting the reef in danger. I would like to thank them, and particularly thank Clara and Rachel for standing up for the reef.

Let us be very clear: this government must make a choice between coal or the Great Barrier Reef. Because of climate change, last year saw the largest die-off of corals ever recorded along the reef, and reports this week are suggesting that the reef is on track for a second consecutive year of massive bleaching. If heat events continue to get more frequent, the reef will not recover. We must make a rapid transition from coal to renewable energy. If we do not, by the time that children like Clara and Rachel are the age of Canberra's politicians, the Great Barrier Reef will no longer exist.

Sharon Bird (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Vocational Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members’ statements has concluded.