Letter sent to Tony Burke MP Federal Minister for the Environment

Dear Minister Burke,

I draw your attention to the recent findings of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) with regard to the proposed sinking of the hulk of the former HMAS Adelaide at Avoca Beach, NSW.

The AAT decision highlights what a poor decision the NSW State Govt made to proceed with this event without undertaking proper environmental analyses.  The failure of the NSW Govt was then made worse by the decision of your predecessor, Minister Peter Garrett, by signing a sinking permit without ensuring adequate protection for the environment and members of the public. 

There is strong opposition to this act of environmental vandalism in the local community – the NSW Govt did not properly consult these residents and Minister Garrett ignored their objections.

The risks of dangerous environmental contamination right in front of a family beach area are very great, and once the ship is sunk, the situation will be irretrievable. There will be no kudos or votes for the Federal Government or the ALP in sinking this ship – only plenty of trouble, in perpetuity. Sinking this ship is too dangerous – it should be recycled.

Don’t let the poor decisions and abysmal governance of the NSW Govt drag you down with it. One of the reasons for Peter Beattie’s long-lasting success as Queensland Premier was his practice of owning-up to mistakes when they occurred and putting them right – Australian voters respect politicians who do that.

I urge you to undo this wrong by reversing Minister Garrett’s wretchedly injurious decision by withdrawing the sinking permit. 

Regards,
Paul Johnson

ACT NOW

Contact Tony Burke, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and register your objections to this sinking madness.

1 year ago