Stradbroke Island champions, the Australian Greens are pushing the federal government to ban sand mining at the location.
The island off Brisbane was set to lose its 50 year old mining industry over the period of the next 17 years in favor of a natural park and creation of green jobs.
The second largest sand island in the world, Stradbroke Island also had 80% of its area declared a national park under the state plan. However Larissa Waters, the Greens Senate candidate did not feel that the 17 year long time table was going to protect old growth forest, ancient sand dunes and Koalas.
Her next move would be to push the Senate to make changes in the customs legislation so that an export license is needed to export zircon, rutile and ilmenite. Eyes are also on Senator Bob Brown, the Greens leader as he tries to secure a higher mining tax rate for the industry.
According to Bob Brown the tax burden will be eased on hospitals and schools if the mining industry pays a higher tax. While he does not want the miners "done in", he does not want smaller businesses to suffer either.