Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef is the planet's greatest living wonder;

(2) further notes that it supports 64,000 jobs and contributes an estimated $6 billion to our economy; and

(3) welcomes the Government's record $500 million boost for Reef protection which will:

(a) invest in a $444 million partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation;

(b) spark new and innovative investment in Reef protection measures;

(c) deliver on projects which are proven to boost the health of the Reef;

(d) improve water quality;

(e) tackle the crown-of-thorns starfish; and

(f) work with traditional owners on this vital project.

When one thinks about what makes this planet so special, it's the thought of the great natural wonders spread across its surface. From the Grand Canyon in the United States to Mount Everest in Nepal, humans are in constant awe of the power, beauty and spectacle of the truly incredible things Mother Nature is capable of.

In 1997, American news service CNN compiled its list of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world—there are just seven examples around the globe that stand alone as magnificent examples of nature, offering both beauty and power. The list followed in the footsteps of previous well-known lists such as the Seven Wonders of the World which featured the most significant examples of man-made magnificence—structures such as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Each time any person or organisation creates a list of the most important, unique natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef is always sure to factor. Stretching some 2,300 kilometres along the tropical east coast of the great state of Queensland, the reef, as we affectionately know it, is the size of a mountain range and as vibrant as a carnival. It is the world's largest coral reef, home to thousands of species of coral, and fish, birds, whales, dugongs and plankton. It is an integral resource for not only Capricornia and Queensland but also the national economy.

While I'm proud to represent the fishers, tour operators and moteliers et cetera of my electorate who rely so directly on the Great Barrier Reef, the story is a much broader and compelling one across the reef's whole footprint. For thousands of years Australians have relied on the bounty provided by the reef. Modern Australia is no different. A 2017 report conducted by Deloitte Australia placed the value of the Great Barrier Reef as a not-to-be-sneezed-at $6.4 billion and estimated its effect on the workforce to be in the value of 64,000 direct and indirect jobs. These are huge figures, figures that must not be ignored. I'm pleased to know that they are not being ignored by this coalition government.

This is a government that, unlike that of those opposite when they were in power, identifies issues and deals with them in a pragmatic manner. We don't just get sad and signal our virtue. We get in and address the real issues. Among the reef's greatest identified threats are run-off pollution and the crown-of-thorns starfish. The recent announcement of $500 million towards addressing these threats was met with open arms recently by two groups in my local community—tourism operators and farmers. The latter may surprise you, but it is our farmers and graziers who have made huge inroads into addressing run-off. Since the Howard government's reef package of well over a decade ago natural resource organisation and landholders have been working together to lighten their impact on the reef. Simple projects like putting in extra water points, fencing off creeks and utilising more-sophisticated spraying techniques make a big difference to what and how much makes its way downstream and onto the reef.

We know that managing run-off is key to keeping water quality high and the crown-of-thorns numbers low. These projects also have the added benefit of helping landholders better manage their land, in turn driving further economic benefit. Increasing ground cover means not only less dirt runs away but more moisture is held within the soil—grass can grow more quickly and more stock can feed from the same area. Using more-sophisticated techniques for herbicides or fertilisers not only means less chance of these chemicals running off onto the reef but also means landholders are able to use less to do more, saving more money while increasing output.

This means that while these policies are addressing the real factors for the reef's health they are also improving the productivity and resilience of our rural communities. It is an approach very different to those opposite, who have effectively shut down our rural communities for the sake of the reef, placing ideology ahead of a pragmatic solution. The greatest threats to the reef are being addressed by this government, and with $500 million on the table I am confident we can continue to see improvements. I wholeheartedly endorse the government's strategy to address the perils facing one of the world's seven natural wonders and look forward to getting home to enjoy its tropical waters.

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