Joint media release: Great Barrier Reef World Heritage status retained by Labor Governments

25 July 2024

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water
The Hon Senator Nita Green, Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef
The Hon Steven Miles MP, Premier of Queensland
The Hon Leanne Linard MP, Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef

The Australian and Queensland Labor governments welcome the World Heritage Committee decision not to list the Great Barrier Reef as ‘in danger’.

This confirms the draft decision from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation handed down last month.

It recognises the Australian and Queensland government’s continued efforts to make significant progress on climate change, water quality and sustainable fishing to protect this World Heritage icon.

This is welcome news, however, we know there is more work to do to act on climate change and protect our precious places.

We will continue to work with the World Heritage Committee and UNESCO to ensure the protection of the Reef and World Heritage properties impacted by climate change around the globe.

The Australian Government has:

  • Invested a record $1.2 billion in the Reef
  • Legislated to reach net zero, with a 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 and committed to reaching 82 per cent renewable energy supply by 2030
  • Accelerated water quality improvements through $200 million for projects such as revegetation, grazing management and engineering work like gully stabilisation
  • Introduced legislation to establish an independent Environment Protection Agency and increase penalties for illegal land clearing
  • Rejected a coal mine that could have direct impacts on the Reef.
  • Withdrawn federal funding for dams that would have had a detrimental impact on Reef water quality.
  • Doubled funding for Reef science
  • Engaged more Indigenous Rangers to manage sea country, including combatting crown of thorns starfish outbreaks, marine plastics and ghost nets.

The Queensland Government has:

  • Invested more than $1 billion since 2015 in reef protection initiatives and programAchieved a 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions based on 2005 levels
  • Legislated a 75 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on 2005 levels by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2050
  • Legislated the $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, including an historic expansion of solar and wind power which will deliver a 90 per cent reduction of electricity emissions on 2005 levels by 2035-36
  • Committed close to $290 million to the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program to improve reef water quality
  • With the Australian Government, commenced the phase-out of gillnets in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with a more than $185 million package – protecting dugongs, dolphins, sharks and turtles

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon Tanya Plibersek:

“The Great Barrier Reef is part our national heritage. We have a duty to safeguard it, to care for it, and to pass it on, so our kids and grandkids can enjoy it like we do.  

“Labor understands this responsibility. And we also know the world is watching us.

“Together with the Queensland Government, we are acting on climate change, improving local water quality, protecting our marine life, dealing with invasive species, and investing a record amount of money into reef programs.”

“Today’s decision is a huge win for Queensland, a huge win for the thousands of people who rely on the reef for work, and a huge win for all the plants and animals that call it home.

“We need to act on climate change. We need to protect our special places and the animals that call them home. And that is precisely what we are doing.

“No one loves the Reef more than we do, no one is more determined to protect it than Australians.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Premier Steven Miles: 

“I will never shy away from doing what matters for the Great Barrier Reef.

“It’s because of the policies of my government that we continue to see positive progress on reef and climate protections – including a World Heritage Committee decision not to list the Great Barrier Reef as ‘in danger’.

“I will continue to protect Queensland’s world class environment for this generation and all those that follow.”  

Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, the Hon Leanne Linard MP:

“The World Heritage Committee’s decision not to list our iconic Great Barrier Reef as being in-danger is welcomed, but we know there is more work to do. 

“The Miles and Albanese Governments do not shy away from this work. We recognise the importance of this iconic ecosystem for the diverse variety of species that its supports, as well as the 64,000 Queenslanders in communities right along the coast whose jobs it supports. 

“We will continue to tackle the threats facing the reef in collaboration with the science community, industry, conservationists, the community and UNESCO to ensure the protection of this environmental marvel.”

Quotes attributable to Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Senator Nita Green:

“We welcome this decision from the World Heritage Committee. The decision recognises the Australian and Queensland government’s efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef and acknowledges there is more always more work to do. 

"We know that climate change is the greatest threats to coral reefs around the world, including the Great Barrier Reef. Working with our partners, agencies and stakeholders, we will continue managing threats to the Reef and supporting global efforts to combat climate change to enhance the Reef’s resilience.”