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Australia's government has approved a plan to dump massive amounts aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup sludge aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup the Great Barrier Reef. The mud will come aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup a project to expand a coal port aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup Abbot Point, aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup the coast aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup the reef. The decision to give the go-ahead aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup the dumping aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup the sludge was made by Australia's Environment Minister in December. It has caused environmentalists to be aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup in arms about the possible damage to the world's largest and most famous coral reef. They say it is outrageous to put corporate profits ahead aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup such an important marine environment. About 3 million cubic meters of mud will be poured aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup the reef's waters. Authorities say the sludge will not be dumped aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup any coral.

The Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system. It stretches for aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup 2,600 kilometres, covering an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres. It receives special protection aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup Australia's government to limit the impact aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup fishing and tourism. Climate change is already damaging its delicate ecosystems aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup bleaching and killing the coral. The reef creates $3 billion a year aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup tourism revenue. Greenpeace warned that the dumping, "is one more body blow aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup the Reef which further threatens marine life, its World Heritage status and Australia's tourism and fishing industries". The World Wildlife Fund said the decision marked, "a sad day aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup the reef and anyone who cares aboutatbyforfrominintonearofonon top ofovertoup its future".