Ministers inspect damage to Reef

A BOAT load of environment ministers and mayors from around the country will slip on their snorkels today to inspect parts of the Reef affected by coral bleaching.

The tour follows a Climate Action Roundtable held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Cairns yesterday by Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles.

While environment ministers from Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory decided not to attend, Dr Miles said the meeting would still help drive policy on climate change across the nation.

“All of those ministers and (Federal Environment) Minister Josh Frydenberg were invited and some of them have very good reasons for not being here,” he said.

“I wouldn’t read too much into the absence of some of them.

“Of course I’m disappointed not to have Minister Frydenberg here, but there are officials and representatives and leaders from many cities and states and territories.

Among those who did attend were South Australia’s Climate Change Minister Ian Hunter, the ACT’s Climate Change Minister Shane Rattenbury, and The Climate Group states and regions director Libby Ferguson.

Ms Ferguson said state governments were showing how tackling climate change was good for their citizens, economies and the environment.

“Australian states are demonstrating the art of the possible, ensuring that Australia is positioned to reap the benefits of the low carbon economy in the absence of a unified national approach,” she said.