00:31
Members of the world heritage committee – that’s 21 countries including Australia – are being heavily lobbied over the Great Barrier Reef by the Morrison government, environment groups and scientists.
All the main environment groups sent a letter to the committee saying it should follow the recommendation from Unesco and put the reef on its “in danger” list at a meeting that starts on Friday. China is the current chair of the committee and is hosting the meeting.
The Greens party room is the latest to send a message to the committee, also supporting Unesco’s recommendation. In a letter sent last night, they write:
We feel this vote is one of the most important moments in history for our oceans, and the fight to save them.
While none of us want the reef to be in danger from our climate crisis, it is the reality. The worst thing we can do is deny it. If we do that, there will be no action, and it will be too late.
Environment Sussan Ley has flown to Europe, landing late yesterday with her first meeting scheduled in Hungary – one of the current member countries that’s also trying to fight off a danger listing for historic areas of Budapest.
The Morrison government and its Paris-based Unesco ambassador are claiming the reef should not be placed on the “in danger” list because advisors to Unesco did not carry out a site visit beforehand.
They also say Australia has followed all advice given since the last time the reef was considered by the committee in 2015.
Australia’s ambassador to Unesco, Megan Anderson, has made the bold claim that putting the reef on the danger list under those circumstances could risk the integrity of the entire world heritage system.
Here’s our story about the letter from environment groups, and some results of polling suggesting widespread support among Australians for the Unesco recommendation.
00:30
The Queensland police service has made a “public statement of regret” to Wangan and Jagalingou man Adrian Burragubba, in relation to an incident where he was pressured by officers to leave traditional lands at the request of the coalminer Adani.
The cultural leader brought a complaint to the Queensland human rights commission after police broke up a protest camp opposing Adani’s Carmichael coalmine in August last year.
At the time Burragubba said Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) traditional owners had sought to “re-establish tribal control” of their lands and were blocking road access to the under-construction coalmine.
You can read the full report below:
00:13
An apartment building in Bondi is under police guard after eight people across five households in the building have tested positive to Covid-19.
There are 29 apartments in the building. The entrance has now been taped off, with no one allowed in or out and masks required in common areas.
It’s understood those who tested positive have been moved to state-controlled quarantine facilities.
NSW has only just introduced mandatory face masks for common areas of apartment buildings – including foyers, stairwells, lifts, corridors and shared laundry facilities.
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23:37
As a Melbournian, can I just say while yes, it is very scary to have Covid-19 cases again, honestly my main emotion is disappointment.
See, today was meant to be the 13th doughnut day in a row and I had so many “baker’s dozen” jokes lined up.
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