Great Barrier Reef Politics
(WorldNews Environment)

Australia´s environment has been in precarious hands since European settlement found its lengthy and persistent way to the continent. It has been mined, mauled, drained, farmed, deforested and despoiled at a rate that was only restrained by the size of its small but rapacious populace. When environmental matters have made an appearance, they have done so with a veil of political opportunism. Few typify this more than Labor´s environment minister Senator Graham Richardson´s efforts regarding the Tasmanian forests. To win over the conservation-minded voter in marginal, city-based seats, it was good to go green - at least for a bit. The Great Barrier Reef has not been exempt from the political...