Concerns over dredging are a 'propaganda' campaign by the WWF, Queensland environment minister claims

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Ben & Jerry's ice-cream has been hauled over the coals by the Queensland government for supporting WWFs "propaganda" campaign to save the Great Barrier Reef.



The environment minister, Andrew Powell, wants Australians to boycott the American company, saying it has damaged the reputation of the reef and jeopardised jobs and tourism dollars.



"Another company has signed up to the campaign of lies and deceit that's been propagated by WWF," Powell said.

"The only people taking a scoop out of the reef are Ben & Jerry's and Unilever.

"If you understand the facts, you'd want to be boycotting Ben & Jerry's."

The minister said he would be writing to its parent company, Unilever, to express his concerns.

Earlier this month, Ben & Jerry's withdrew popular flavour Phish Food because of its allusion to fish food, as a way of drawing attention to the potential damage to the reef.

It also embarked on a road trip around parts of Australia, giving out free ice-cream to highlight its concerns over damage to the reef.

The company said the reef was at serious risk of destruction from intensive dredging and dumping, mega-ports and shipping highways.

The brand has championed environmental causes in its 35-year history, including opposing drilling in the Arctic, and says it's a proud supporter of WWF's campaign.

"Ben & Jerry's believes that dredging and dumping in world heritage waters surrounding the marine park area will be detrimental to the reef ecology," its Australia brand manager, Kalli Swaik, said.

"It threatens the health of one of Australia's most iconic treasures."

The Queensland and federal governments in January approved the dumping of 3m cubic metres of dredge spoil in the marine park and World Heritage area to enable the Abbot Point coal port expansion.

The government says 70% of the spoil is expected to settle on the seabed.

WWF fears spoil could get caught in currents and smother or poison reefs just 40km away.

The CEO of WWF, Dermot O'Gorman, said the campaign reflected the concern of people around the world about how the reef is being managed.

"Ben & Jerry's' tour is a timely reminder that the world expects the Queensland and Australian governments to lift their game," he said.

Unesco is due to meet in June to consider the Australian government's progress in improving the management of the reef.

It's due to decide this year or next whether to list the reef as a world heritage site in danger.