Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the recent United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) decision not to list the Great Barrier Reef as in danger;

(2) notes that the Government is tackling climate change and protection of the Great Barrier Reef to make a real difference, including action that has:

(a) invested a record $1.2 billion in the reef;

(b) legislated to reach net zero, with a 43 per cent emissions reduction target in 2035, and committed to reaching 82 per cent renewable energy supply by 2030;

(c) invested $150 million to improve water quality through projects such as revegetation, grazing management and engineering work like gully stabilisation;

(d) with the Queensland Government, announced the phase-out of gillnets in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with a $160 million package;

(e) rejected a coal mine that could have direct impacts on the reef;

(f) engaged more Indigenous rangers to manage sea country, including combatting crown of thorns starfish outbreaks, marine plastics and ghost nets;

(g) withdrawn federal funding for dams that would have had a detrimental impact on reef water quality;

(h) invested an extra $163.4 million in the May 2023 budget to guarantee the future of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, doubling funding for reef science; and

(i) committed to rewriting Australia's broken environmental laws; and

(3) confirms that UNESCO's decision makes clear that Australia's environmental policies have fundamentally changed under this Government and changed for the better.

Today I rise to address a critical issue of both national and global importance: the safeguarding of our Great Barrier Reef. It's a remarkable natural wonder, spanning over 2,300 kilometres. This vast and diverse ecosystem, comprising over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, is not only a cherished part of our national heritage but also a global example and symbol of biodiversity. I commend UNESCO's recent decision to not classify the Great Barrier Reef as in danger. This reflects the effective environmental policies implemented by the Albanese government since the coalition circus was sent packing. These policies, crafted and executed under the leadership of our Minister for the Environment and Water, demonstrate our commitment to combating climate change, enhancing water quality and promoting sustainable fishing. These efforts have significantly strengthened the resilience and sustainability of the reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is more than just a marine park and a tourist destination. It's an irreplaceable ecosystem, an indicator of our planet's health and a source of inspiration for scientists, nature enthusiasts and Indigenous peoples alike—and something that every Far North Queenslander is proud of. I say that as I'm married to one. And I note in passing the death of my magnificent sister-in-law Robyn Boulton last Thursday. I will be going back to Cairns on Friday for her funeral.

Regrettably, the previous Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments neglected the reef's plight. They were terms in office marked by inaction and a lack of substantive measures. This neglect led to severe coral bleaching events, a consequence of global warming, while the scientific warnings about the reef's deteriorating health were largely ignored.

The coalition government's lack of effective action has had significant repercussions. The reef, a biodiversity hotspot, supports thousands of unique species and is integral to the livelihoods of over 64,000 Australians, contributing $6.4 billion annually to our economy, mainly through tourism. However the reef's value extends beyond economics, embodying deep cultural significance for the traditional owners who have stewarded these lands and seas for millennia. The Labor Party has consistently recognised the reef as both an ecological wonder and a bellwether for global environmental issues. Our commitment to its preservation is evident in our history of decisive action and forward-thinking policy. The establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority by the Whitlam government in the early 1970s marked a significant conservation milestone, especially in light of Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen's efforts at the time. Subsequent Labor governments have upheld this legacy, with the reef's designation as a World Heritage site in 1981 and the expansion of marine protected areas under the Rudd and Gillard administrations.

But our history is not just one of conservation; it's also one of adaptation and innovation. We've pioneered research and monitoring efforts to understand the impacts of climate change on the reef and have sought to address the root causes of its decline. It is the Labor Party that has continually placed the health of the reef at the forefront of our climate policies, understanding the inextricable link between the two. We've fought for strong action on climate change not only as a moral imperative but as a critical measure for the reef's survival. The current government's commitment to the reef and the challenge of climate change is evident in our actions. We've allocated a record $1.2 billion for comprehensive reef management and conservation, aiming to protect its unique marine life. We've set ambitious goals, including a 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2035 and achieving 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030. These initiatives underline our resolve to address climate change, which is the most significant long-term threat to the reef.

Our efforts extend to improving water quality, with $150 million dedicated to critical projects, and phasing out gillnets in collaboration with the Queensland government, supported by a $160 million package. We've opposed harmful industrial and mining projects and enhanced the role of Indigenous rangers in managing sea country. We also withdrew funding from dam projects that would negatively impact on reef water quality. In May this year, we doubled funding for the Australian Institute of Marine Science to bolster reef science, a testament to our evidence based approach. UNESCO's decision acknowledges the positive shift in Australia's environmental policies under Labor's governance. Obviously there's more work to be done. It's a call to intensify our efforts so that we protect the reef for our children and our children's children. It's a vital ecological asset and a great economic driver.

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