Joint media statement: Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Great Barrier Reef

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water
Senator Nita Green, Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef

We note the report of the Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Great Barrier Reef, the outcome of work conducted in March 2022, during the term of the previous Morrison Liberal National Government.

We understand that the people who live and work on the Reef might find the report alarming. It’s important to note this is not a UNESCO proposal for listing the Reef as ‘in danger’. This is a technical report and the World Heritage Centre is yet to make a recommendation, which would be considered by the World Heritage Committee.

We agree that climate change is a serious threat to World Heritage sites, right across the globe, including coral reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef.

This global threat must be met with global action.

With the election of the new Labor Government, Australia has stepped up to play our part, working in partnership with the Queensland Government. Since the Monitoring Mission undertook their work, the Government has engaged in constructive dialogue with UNESCO, and taken a number of significant steps forward.

We are taking strong action on climate change by legislating an emissions reduction target of 43 per cent by 2030, with a clear path to net zero by 2050. We have backed up these targets with real policies set out in our Powering Australia plan.

Our Government has supercharged work to protect the Reef with a record $1.2 billion investment including $204 million of new funding in this year’s Budget. These measures will:

• Improve water quality and remove marine plastics from the Reef.
• Deal with unsustainable fishing and protect and restore critical habitats for wildlife.
• Increase management of the Reef by Traditional Owners.
• Control invasive species like Crown-of-Thorns Starfish.
• Provide extra support for our marine scientists to further strengthen their reputation as the best coral reef managers in the world.

This is in addition to the outstanding work being done by the Queensland Government. In just a few short months, the new Labor Government has achieved much for the environment:

• We’re rewriting our environmental laws – to protect the environment and provide quicker, clearer decisions.
• We’re establishing a new Environmental Protection Agency – a tough cop on the beat. 
• We’ve set a goal of no new extinctions.
• We’re better protecting our most precious environments – by expanding the land and ocean under protection to 30 percent by 2030. 
• We’ve signed the Leader’s Pledge for Nature at the UN – which the previous Liberal National Government refused to do.
• We’re establishing a new nature repair market, to reward farmers and other landholders for their work in restoring and protecting nature. 
• We’ve introduced legislation to the parliament to strengthen regulation on ozone depleting gases.
• We’ve joined the international High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution by 2040 and the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, and we’re working with state and territory government to improve waste management and build a more circular economy
• We’ve stepped up Australia’s leadership on the environment internationally by joining the Oceans Conservation Pledge, International Mangrove Alliance for Climate, the Joint Declaration on the creation of a Global Coalition for Blue Carbon and the Forests and Climate Leaders Partnership.

The Great Barrier Reef sustains 64,000 Australian jobs and contributes $6.4 billion to the Australian economy. Australians understand more than anyone the importance of protecting the Reef.