The Queensland environment department reportedly approved an amendment to the permit to dredge at Abell Point a week after the owner of the Abell Point marina, Paul Darrouzet, donated $150,000 to the Queensland LNP.
Greens senator Larissa Waters said: “It’s clear the big end of town is running the Newman government at the expense of everyday Queenslanders and the Great Barrier Reef.
“Big business’ every wish is Campbell Newman’s command, especially when it comes to dredging, dumping and shipping in the Great Barrier Reef. The Newman government needs to stop putting political donations above the environment and transparent decision making.”
The Newman government should immediately reverse its increase to the threshold for disclosing political donations, Waters said.
Queensland’s environment minister Andrew Powell has denied any link between dredging approval and a political donation.
