The Great Barrier Reef is under threat from inaction on climate change and neglect by the Morrison Government. The next generation deserves to enjoy the Reef, just like generations before. But right now, 90 percent of it has been bleached by warming ocean temperatures.
The Reef has undergone four mass bleaching events in the last six years. And for the third time in seven years the World Heritage Committee is considering listing the Reef as “in danger”. Unless we act on climate change, and invest in preservation and restoration, the 64,000 jobs that rely on the Reef will be at risk.
Reef scientists say Australia needs to scale up its climate, water quality and other reef management programs to prevent further risk.
Protecting the Reef means climate and energy policy leadership, restoring Reef catchments and recovering the Reef’s threatened species.
Delivering climate and energy policy leadership
An Albanese Government will address the Reef’s number one threat, climate change – by delivering our Powering Australia commitment to:
We will deliver an additional $194.5 million in reef protection programs over the forward estimates, on top of existing programs. This will bring total investment by 2030 to almost $1.2 billion. Labor will:
Indigenous rangers will play a lead role in reef preservation – with Labor ensuring an allocation of at least $100 million of protection and restoration work to Indigenous ranger organisations by the end of the decade.