MEDIA RELEASE: DOES MINISTER FRYDENEBERG KNOW HE’S THE ENVIRONMENT MINISTER?

Today in Parliament Minister Frydenberg demonstrated an extraordinary disregard for the environmental approvals process which he is responsible for.

He doesn’t seem to want to do his job.

Mr Frydenberg again claimed that the allegations surrounding a spill of coal laden water in the Caley Valley Wetlands are a state matter.

When the Federal Government gave approval to Adani for the Abbot Point development, it specifically inserted conditions around the treatment of the Caley Valley Wetlands. Dumping coal-laden water on the wetlands wasn't one of the conditions.

There are specific conditions about the treatment of the wetlands which were part of the federal approval. As Australia’s Environment Minister, making sure those conditions are followed is his personal legal responsibility.

If in response to this spill Adani has submitted an altered laboratory report it raises very serious questions as to whether Adani is abiding by the Environmental Protection Biodiversity Act (EPBC Act, 1999). The minister can’t palm this off to the Queensland Government.

It’s his Government’s approval, his Government’s conditions and his Government’s responsibility.

TUESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 2018