Joint media release - World Oceans Day: Restoring our precious Reef islands

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

The Albanese Labor Government is investing $7.4 million to protect and restore Lady Elliot Island and Pine Islet on the Great Barrier Reef.

Lady Elliot Island is the southernmost island of the Great Barrier Reef and is one of the jewels in the crown of the Reef. The island and reef support hundreds of nesting seabirds and turtles. An investment of $1.9 million will restore the native cay vegetation, helping to build resilience against climate change.

Pine Islet is around 120 kilometres off the coast of Mackay and is home to asbestos contaminated buildings which are deteriorating and collapsing. An investment of $5.5 million will support the asbestos management plan, enabling the removal of asbestos and asbestos contaminated soil from the island.

Traditional Owners will also be supported to manage revegetation work.

Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Senator Nita Green will visit Lady Elliot Island today to announce these projects.

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

“The Great Barrier Reef is one the most beautiful places on Earth. We want to better protect it for our kids and grandkids.

“The Federal Labor government is acting to protect our precious reef, including legislating more ambitious emissions reduction targets and investing a record $1.2 billion to protect and restore the Great Barrier Reef.

“This announcement will support the great work being done to protect and restore two of our Great Barrier Reef islands, Lady Elliot Island and Pine Islet.

“Through these island restoration and revegetation projects, critical habitat will be rebuilt and maintained on the islands, helping to protect our precious native species.”

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

“This is a practical example of our government’s commitment to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef as one of Australia’s precious places.

“Lady Elliot Island and Pine Islet are important ecosystems on the Reef and our investment will help ensure their biodiversity values are preserved.

“We are working hard to build resilience and future-proof the Reef in the face of climate change, because doing so will also protect the 64,000 jobs it supports.”