Last week, Environment Minister Greg Hunt caved to mining interests and approved the massive dredging and dumping project in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area at Abbot Point.

It’s a decision that stings, but the fight isn’t over. Here’s what we do next.

Minister Hunt has approved the dredging and dumping, but the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority still has to issue a permit to allow the dumping to occur in the Marine Park.

The Reef Authority is the government body tasked with protecting the Reef. In their own words, their “fundamental obligation is to protect the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the World Heritage Area”. It’s up to us to hold them to this promise.

The Authority is already under huge pressure from the mining industry to approve the dumping. This means it’s our job to show them there will always be more support for protecting the Reef, than for destroying it.

Right now, there’s a last-minute opening for a full-page ad in tomorrow’s Courier Mail. If we can raise enough money, we can put a direct, powerful message in Queensland’s most read paper, where the authority is headquartered.

Can you chip in to run a full-page ad asking the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to stand up against the dumping project that threatens our Reef?

http://www.getup.org.au/help-run-this-ad

Here’s what we know: the decision the Reef Authority makes now will determine the health of the Reef in years to come.

Minister Hunt has approved the project without even knowing where the dumping will occur. Without knowing where the dump site is, there is no way the environmental impact on the Reef and its fragile ecosystem can be accurately assessed. This is our best chance to pressure our independent Reef Authority to protect Reef waters from the dumping of toxic sludge.

Click here to see a draft of the ad and help remind the Reef Authority to stand true to its promise to be a guardian of our Reef.

http://www.getup.org.au/help-run-this-ad

The Great Barrier Reef is a national and international treasure and we can’t sit back as politicians and coal barons decide to trash it. There’s no way we will stop fighting after one setback.

Act on this window of opportunity now, and stay ready for the fight ahead.

Thanks for everything.