Julie Bishop Condemns Barack Obama For Overlooking Australia’s Commitment in Protecting Great Barrier Reef

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop criticised Barack Obama for his Brisbane speech. Bishop referred to the comment made by the U.S. president that the Great Barrier Reef was threatened due to climate change.

Bishop was in New York to attend a counter-terrorism meeting by the United Nations Security Council. She said that she could "understand the Queensland Government's concern" while she said that "there was an issue regarding [Mr Obama's] statement," ABC News quoted Bishop. Bishop emphasised that Australia was "demonstrating world's best practice in working with the World Heritage Committee to ensure that the Great Barrier Reef was preserved for generations to come." Bishop said that the American president might have overlooked "that aspect" of Australia's commitment to protecting the Great Barrier Reef. Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell reacted to Obama's comment. He said that measures were already being taken to make sure that the Great Barrier Reef got protected for future generations.

Obama earlier said at the University of Queensland that "the incredible natural glory of the Great Barrier Reef was threatened" due to global warming which would, according to him, also mean frequent storms, rising seas and more flooding submerging Pacific islands. He also said that he had wished to visit the renowned landmark with his daughters if he had more time. "I know there's been a healthy debate in this country about (climate change)," 9News quoted Obama, "Here in the Asia Pacific nobody has more at stake when it comes to thinking about, and then acting on, climate change."

The Australian foreign minister also commented on the mission against Islamic State in the Middle East. She said that Australia did not intend to send additional resources or forces the mission even though Washington had discussed the issue with Australia. Bishop said that Australia had kept what it had committed as the Iraqi government had given consent for the same. Bishop's remark seemed to have contradicted what Obama's statement at the APEC conference had said. Obama said that Australia, among other coalition partners, was already committed to putting trainers in to see how it could supplement and work with the U.S. in the effort.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au