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The Australian Marine Conservation Society has delivered a pledge to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s office to end dumping of dredge material in the Great Barrier Reef.

The pledge has been delivered with a demonstration of dumping and dredging by protesters from the AMCS who staged a mock dump of sludge at the Prime Minister’s office in Brisbane.

Felicity Wishart, AMCS Great Barrier Reef Campaign Director, said there was currently millions of tonnes of dredging and dumping planned for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

“Thousands of Australians are calling on their politicians to end dredge dumping in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Area,” Ms Wishart said.

“This election, we’re calling on all politicians to sign the pledge to ban dumping of dredge material in the Reef’s World Heritage Area waters.

“We will be delivering this petition in person to the Prime Minister’s electorate office with a demonstration of what dredging does to the Reef.

“The demonstration draws attention to plans to dredge three million cubic metres of seafloor near Abbot Point, less than 50kms from the Whitsunday Islands.

“Dredging causes damage to the sensitive feeding and breeding grounds of marine species like dugongs, turtles and dolphins.

“All politicians should take the pledge to end dumping in the Great Barrier Reef.

“If Mr Rudd takes the pledge to end dumping will support a $6 billion dollar tourism industry dependent on the Reef and the 60,000 jobs that go with it,” Ms Wishart said.

Press Release, August 5, 2013; Image: westernbasinportdevelopment