Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

but it is a great economic asset for Australia as well. Because this is a great economic asset and one of the natural wonders of the world, the future of the Great Barrier Reef is important to every single Australian. It is important to every single member of this parliament. That is why I was pleased to be with the member for Dawson, the Minister for the Environment and the Queensland Minister for Environment and Heritage at Hamilton Island on Saturday to announce a long-term sustainability plan for the Great Barrier Reef.

It was the Fraser government which banned drilling on the Great Barrier Reef. It was the Fraser government which established the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. It was the Fraser government which gave World Heritage listing to the Great Barrier Reef. It was the Howard government which established green zones over a third of the Barrier Reef to protect it from overfishing.

Mr Perrett interjecting—

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