MEDIA RELEASE: Climate change policy needed to protect the Reef

Today’s announcement from UNESCO that climate change is the most serious threat to the Reef highlights how little action the Government is willing to take to protect the Reef.

Over the last 18 months the Reef has suffered two bleaching events, and yet in the last year because of this Government’s $2.5 billion Direct Action fig leaf, pollution rose 1.4 per cent.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most prized natural treasures and the economy of Far North Queensland, which employs more than 64,000 people; rely on a healthy, thriving Reef.

The Turnbull Government’s climate failures are threatening the Reef, causing emission and electricity prices to rise, costing us renewable jobs and have left us with one of the dirtiest vehicle fleet in the domestic world. The Government's own emissions projections see emissions in 2030 being the same as in 2005.

The Reef is being attacked from every angle, from the west by the Government failing to act on land clearing, from the east by suspending the Coral Sea Marine National Park and from above by refusing to act on climate change.

The Turnbull Government removed critical protections for the Coral Sea, trashed Labor’s land clearing laws and have no climate change policy, which are all crucial to support a thriving Reef.

It is clear that Malcolm Turnbull would rather risk the Reef than take serious action on climate change.

TUESDAY, 11 JULY 2017

THE HON TONY BURKE MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA

SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR WATSON

THE HON MARK BUTLER MP

SHADOW MINISTER CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY

MEMBER FOR PORT ADELAIDE