FED:Coral Sea plan would ruin Qld: coalition

08-11-2010
FED:Coral Sea plan would ruin Qld: coalition

The coalition says an Australian Greens' proposal to protect the Coral Sea from oil
and gas mining is irresponsible .. reckless and uninformed.

The sea off Australia's northeastern coast and the Great Barrier Reef are home to coral
reefs and thriving fish populations.. turtles .. reef sharks and whales.

Greens leader Senator BOB BROWN says only one per cent of the Coral Sea is protected
.. meaning much of the waters are open to destructive activities like overfishing and
oil and gas extraction.

Senator BROWN says under a Greens plan .. oil and gas extraction would be banned and
recreational game fishing limited to the western region near Cairns.

But coalition fisheries spokesman Senator RICHARD COLBECK says the plan is a disaster
for Queensland's fishing communities .. that will hit thousands of hard working fishers
and small business operators.

AAP RTV gd/wz/af

KEYWORD: POLL10 GREENS REEF (CANBERRA)

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