Queensland state leaders in Australia have delighted enviros by pressing the federal government to reject a plan to explore for oil near the Great Barrier Reef. The federal environment minister, Robert Hill, says he will respond within a week to a proposal by the company TGS NOPEC to carry out a seismic survey about 35 miles from the reef. The company says testing for oil will not impact the reef, but enviro groups like the Australian Conservation Foundation vehemently disagree. Queensland Tourism Minister Merri Rose said the reef is worth more than $800 million a year to the state’s tourism industry.
