| Reactions to the government's funding announcement have been mixed.(Facebook: Great Barrier Reef Legacy) |
Key Points
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The nine-year plan announced today in Cairns is the biggest single investment ever made in the reef and will support the development of technology and water management practices.
It comes after the 344,400-square-kilometre ecosystem narrowly avoided being listed as "in danger" by UNESCO last year.
James Cook University marine biology associate professor Jodie Rummer said she felt underwhelmed by the commitment.
"Without a mention of climate change in this announcement … it's not looking great," she said.
"We need to be putting resources and money – $1 billion – towards net zero by 2035 and to reducing our emissions by 75 per cent in this decade."
| Jodie Rummer says the reef will be doomed without more action on climate change.(ABC News: Travis Mead) |
"We're barrelling towards two-degree warming," she said.
"What we've already seen with one and 1.2 degrees of global warming is three million heat waves within five years resulting in 98 per cent bleaching on reefs worldwide.
"This is isn't just isolated to Australia — it's a problem worldwide."
| Coral bleaching at Magnetic Island. (Supplied: Victor Huertas) |
Paul Crocombe runs a dive business in Townsville and has been working on the reef for more than 40 years.
He welcomed today's announcement, saying it was "better late than never".
Mr Crocombe's biggest concern was water quality.
"We get drought, we get a lot of exposed soil, and they we'll get a cyclone and a flood and that soil will wash down into the ocean," he said.
Mr Crocombe hoped people would become more aware that what they washed down their drains ultimately affected the reef.
He also felt many believed the reef was beyond repair, but he said the reef had the potential to be "very good for a long time" provided it was properly cared for.
"I don't think it's too late," he said.
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| Terri Butler says the reef wouldn't be in such bad shape if "real action" had been taken earlier. (News Video) |
Opposition Environment spokeswoman Terri Butler said she viewed today's announcement as an admission of failure from the government.
"Their only policy to date has been giving half a billion dollars to a tiny charity behind closed doors in a backroom deal and clearly they're admitting that hasn't been enough," she said.
Ms Butler said if the government had taken "real action" on climate change the reef's health would not be in such steep decline.
"This is a government that is desperately trying to scrabble in relation to the reef after a decade of mismanagement," she said.
"This is a government that turned up to Glasgow this year with nothing more than a pamphlet."
Australia avoids Great Barrier Reef global embarrassment  |
| Let's strip away the politics and look at the facts — the things that actually matter to the reef. Read more |
Ms Butler said Labor supported immediate action, but would not comment on
whether the party would match the $1b commitment.
"The government's announcement is for funding over 10 years,'" she said.
"We don't even know how much of this money is suppose to be spent immediately and how much is spent in year seven, eight, or nine."
Labor has pledged to spend $163 million, including an additional $63m to the Reef 2050 program.
At the moment the plan is only funded until 2023/24.
Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the Prime Minster had turned an environmental issue into a political one and that Australians would see through the timing of the announcement.
"We know that Scott Morrison doesn't care about the reef — if he did he would have done something about it over the last decade the Liberals and Nationals have been in office," he said.
PM reaffirms climate commitments
When asked if the funding adequate and whether the government should have focused on reaching net zero by 2030, Mr Morrison said the reef had always been a priority.
"We've committed to net zero by 2050 and we've reduced emissions by over 20 per cent," he said.
Mr Morrison said the funding came on top of $2b already invested in its sustainability plan.
"We are backing the health of the reef and the economic future of tourism operators, hospitality providers and Queensland communities [who] are at the heart of the reef economy," he said.
"The government's announcement is for funding over 10 years,'" she said.
"We don't even know how much of this money is suppose to be spent immediately and how much is spent in year seven, eight, or nine."
Labor has pledged to spend $163 million, including an additional $63m to the Reef 2050 program.
At the moment the plan is only funded until 2023/24.
Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the Prime Minster had turned an environmental issue into a political one and that Australians would see through the timing of the announcement.
"We know that Scott Morrison doesn't care about the reef — if he did he would have done something about it over the last decade the Liberals and Nationals have been in office," he said.
| Scott Morrison says the funding comes in addition to billions already spent on the reef.(ABC News: David Sciasci) |
When asked if the funding adequate and whether the government should have focused on reaching net zero by 2030, Mr Morrison said the reef had always been a priority.
"We've committed to net zero by 2050 and we've reduced emissions by over 20 per cent," he said.
"We're so proud of our reef and we can be proud that Australia leads the world in reef management."Youtube Great Barrier Reef dodges 'danger' status
Mr Morrison said the funding came on top of $2b already invested in its sustainability plan.
"We are backing the health of the reef and the economic future of tourism operators, hospitality providers and Queensland communities [who] are at the heart of the reef economy," he said.
Links
- Great Barrier Reef 'seen from outer space, not an office in Paris', says Minister rebuking UNESCO's warning
- 'Trajectory's not good': Great Barrier Reef bleaching study returns worrying results
- 'Net zero' is a political win, but it has entrenched a climate policy stalemate
- (AU SMH) Critics Pan A Plan For The Barrier Reef As Bleaching Threat Rises
- (AU ABC) Promising Signs Of New Life On Australia's Largest Oceanic Reef, Despite Frequent Heat Stress
- (Washington Post) Photos Show Vast Coral Spawning Event In Great Barrier Reef, Giving Divers Hope For Climate Change Recovery
- (USA TIME) UNESCO Says Australia's Great Barrier Reef Isn't In Danger Yet. Many Environmentalists And Divers Disagree
- (AU The Conversation) Not Declaring The Great Barrier Reef As ‘In Danger’ Only Postpones The Inevitable
- (AU SBS) Australia Accused Of ‘Censoring Science’ After Great Barrier Reef Avoids World Heritage ‘In Danger’ Listing
- (AU ABC) Australia Avoids Great Barrier Reef Global Embarrassment, But The Dangers Of Climate Change Remain For The Reef
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