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

And this government has put in place a long-term sustainability plan for the Barrier Reef and, perhaps most importantly, this government has already ended the dumping of dredge spoil from capital dredging in the heritage listed areas of the Great Barrier Reef. This is a very important further step to protect the reef—the ending of the dumping of capital dredging spoil in the heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. It has been done by this government and it is in the great conservationist tradition of coalition governments over the decades.

At the heart of the long-term plan is water quality. Already, there has been a 10 per cent reduction in sediment, in fertiliser run-off; a 28 per cent reduction in pesticide run-off. By 2025, under the sustainability plan, there will be an 80 per cent reduction in fertiliser run-off and a 50 per cent reduction in sediment. To this end, we have added $100 million—it is now $140 million—to the Reef Trust. It will operate much the same as the Emissions Reduction Fund. It will go to landholders and seek the lowest-cost, most-effective ways to improve land and, in so doing, to protect the Barrier Reef.

This is an extraordinary national asset. It is something that we are entrusted with the custodianship of for our generation. We will protect it for our time so that, for all time, this marvellous wonder of the world can be enjoyed by humanity.

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