Questions about timing of reef funding

Georgie Moore |

Climate scientists have questioned the timing of a $1 billion Great Barrier Reef spending splash days out from Australia’s deadline to update UNESCO on how it is protecting the World Heritage site.

The funding over nine years follows the Morrison government’s successful bid last year to delay a decision about listing the reef as “in danger” until 2023.

UNESCO had asked Australia to provide more information by next Tuesday about what’s being done to protect the reef.

Environment Minister Sussan Ley on Friday confirmed Australia would be submitting its report next week.

She also requested UNESCO send a reactive monitoring mission to look at work to restore and protect the reef.

“It certainly is the case that you can see the reef from outer space, but not from an office in Paris,” she told reporters in Cairns. 

The Climate Council’s Lesley Hughes thinks it’s inevitable the reef will end up on the list because of the threat from global warming.

“The Australian environment in general is woefully underfunded, especially by this government, so any increase in funding to anything environmental in Australia is always welcome,” Professor Hughes told AAP on Friday. 

“However, the timing of the announcement and the scale of the funding, one would have to be fairly cynical about (that).”

Australia last year took diplomats on a diving trip in a bid to convince countries to vote against an earlier draft recommendation for an “in danger” listing.

“One of the advantages of making that listing would be to draw attention to the fact that the Australian government – which has stewardship of the reef – which is really one of the world’s most precious natural and irreplaceable icons, also has one of the worst climate policies of any country,” Professor Hughes said.

More than $500 million of the new federal funding will be used to boost water quality including by remediating erosion and reducing pesticide run-off.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will get more than $250 million to reduce threats from the crown of thorns starfish and prevent illegal fishing.

Another $92.7 million is slated for research to make the reef more resilient and to boost adaptation strategies.

Traditional owners and community groups will receive $74 million for projects to deal with species protection, habitat restoration and citizen science.

The funds come on top of $2 billion previously given to agencies including the marine park authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Ms Ley acknowledged climate change posed the biggest threat to the reef and insisted Australia was playing its part internationally in reducing emissions.

“But we also know that building a healthy and resilient reef is the best thing we can do in the face of those pressures,” she said. 

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles criticised the funding announcement as mere posturing.

“You cannot be serious about supporting the Great Barrier Reef if you are not serious about action on climate change. Scott Morrison is not,” he said.

AAP