Greens Leader Bob Brown has accused bulk carriers of using the pristine waters of the Great Barrier Reef as a "coal highway" and has called for a royal commission into the grouding of a Chinese coal ship.
Chinese bulk carrier Shen Neng 1 was sailing at full speed in a restricted zone of the marine park on Saturday when it hit Douglas Shoal, offshore from Rockhampton.
It leaked about two tonnes of oil and salvors plan to place a boom around the vessel today to prevent it from spilling more.
Senator Brown says evidence is emerging that ships laden with toxic cargos have been taking short cuts through reef areas for a long time, posing grave threats to the pristine environment.
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"If that's the case, Premier (Anna) Bligh's book needs to be thrown not only at governments that allowed that to happen, but at every ship that's been breaking the law here," he told reporters in Brisbane.
"I call on Prime Minister (Kevin) Rudd to institute an immediate royal commission."
He said the royal commission must look at the grounding of the Shen Neng 1 in a restricted area of the marine park, but must also take a broader focus.
Senator Brown said shipping controls were clearly ineffectual, and it appeared big ore carriers and even oil carriers were regularly taking short cuts through the Great Barrier Reef.
The Greens leader also called for a complete review about the number and size of ships moving through the Great Barrier Reef.
"The Queensland press is reporting today that fishermen say they see at least one of these large bulk carriers moving illegally through to the south of Douglas Shoal each day, " Mr Brown told the ABC.
"There needs to be pilots aboard and there needs to be very strict laws including monitoring of where these ships are.
"They should be checked before they leave port to see that they are, where they are going and if they are seaworthy and that they are properly able to handle the conditions," he told the ABC.
Earlier this week Ms Bligh said she hoped authorities threw the book at the ship's owner and captain.
She said there appeared to have been some blatant breaches of maritime law, with the ship found to be some 15 nautical miles, or almost 30km, off course.
