Greens launch action plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef   
2024-12-09
greens.org.au
The Greens’ election plan to protect our iconic Great Barrier Reef would dedicate over $4 billion in new funding to protect this World Heritage icon and mega-employer. The Greens call to ban new coal and gas will save the Reef from its biggest threat, the climate crisis.

Quotes attributable to Greens Senator for Queensland, Larissa Waters:

“New coal mines have been approved like confetti by both Labor and Liberal federal governments, despite climate being the biggest threat to the Reef and the 60,000 people whose livelihood depends on it.1

“Just weeks ago, the Australian Institute of Marine Science confirmed that parts of the Great Barrier Reef have experienced its worst coral loss in 39 years. We know that with over 2 degrees of global warming, we will lose 99% of the coral cover of the Reef - and we are on track to exceed that temperature without a rapid transition to clean energy.

“Only strong political action on the climate crisis can secure a future for the Great Barrier Reef, and that’s why the Greens, backed by scientists, continue to say no new coal and gas.

“We also need to improve catchment health, and that means working with farmers to reduce run-off which also saves them money. The Greens would allocate $2 billion to improve water quality to meet the 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan goals, incentivising farmers to use more sustainable land management practices and get us on track to meet 2025 and subsequent water quality targets.

“The Greens would commit $1 billion to 2030 towards implementation and progression of the recommendations of the 2022 Joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Great Barrier Reef.

“The Reef also needs a strong protector, so this announcement would see the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s funding increase by $270 million over 9 years with greater independence and stronger powers.

“The Great Barrier Reef is a biodiverse wonderland supporting countless miraculous species, and providing a livelihood for 60,000 Queenslanders. The Greens will always fight to protect it.”

Quotes attributable to Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:

“The Great Barrier Reef as we have been lucky enough to know it in our lifetime is fighting for survival due to extreme ocean warming from the burning of fossil fuels.

“In order to give the Great Barrier Reef the best chance of recovery we must be crystal clear about the magnitude of what needs to be done, and pull out all stops and make this global wonder as resilient as possible.

“That’s why in addition to major investment, the Greens are pushing for the ongoing destruction, caused by repeated marine heatwaves on the Great Barrier Reef, to be declared a national emergency.

“If a bushfire had burned for thousands of kilometres along the east coast of Australia, annihilated World Heritage habitat, decimated wildlife and impacted communities and the economy, a national emergency declaration would have already occurred.

“Marine heatwaves shouldn’t be treated differently to other extreme weather events simply because their terrible impacts are underwater – the devastation that continues to unfold on the Great Barrier Reef more than meets the criteria for a national emergency. The Albanese Government is kidding itself if it denies it.

“Governments can’t continue to throw cash at monitoring the Great Barrier Reef to its death. We are in a climate and environmental crisis and things need to be done differently – but if you want change, you have to vote for it.”

The Greens will:

Take the climate action needed to protect the Great Barrier Reef by ending new coal and gas
Commit $4.17bn in additional funding to protect the Great Barrier Reef, including:
Fund $2 billion to prioritise the delivery of the 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan and regional Water Quality Improvement Plans. This funding will be front-loaded with $250 million to urgently prioritise initiatives to fully meet the 2025 water quality targets;
Commit $1 billion to 2030 towards implementation and progression of the recommendations of the 2022 Joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Great Barrier Reef, in addition to other Great Barrier Reef spending already committed. This would include Federal funding to compensate operators of the Queensland Coral Fishery (QCF) who currently hold licences to harvest coral within or adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park;
Allocate $150 million over 5 years to establish a research and innovation fund to determine protected species population estimates; bycatch reduction devices; and research protected species resilience to climatic and environmental changes;
Invest an additional $750 million in a Land Restoration Fund;
Provide the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority with $270 million over 9 years to support delivery of greater independence and stronger powers, including to regulate coastal development.