JOINT MEDIA RELEASE WITH HON DR STEVEN MILES MP, QUEENSLAND MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT & HON JACKIE TRAD MP, QUEENSLAND DEPUTY PREMIER
The Australian and Queensland Governments have made a significant update to the Great Barrier Reef Intergovernmental Agreement, established in 1979, to further strengthen our plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
The Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan has been included as a schedule to the Agreement, giving the 35-year blueprint the highest possible level of agreement between the national and state Governments.
It’s a clear sign of our determination and commitment to work together to protect the Great Barrier Reef for the future.
We are also pleased to announce the membership of our Reef Advisory Committee which will provide community and industry engagement in the plan and has a wide representation of parties with an interest in the Reef.
Having the input and guidance of Reef stakeholders will continue to strengthen our management responses and actions. We all have a part to play in the protection of this magnificent natural icon.
The Reef Advisory Committee will be chaired by the former Governor of Queensland, and Chair of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the Hon Penny Wensley AC. Membership will include senior representatives nominated from the following organisations:
• Traditional owner groups in the Great Barrier Reef
• AgForce
• Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO)
• Australian Committee of IUCN (ACIUCN)
• Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
• CareFish
• CSIRO
• Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF)
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Local Marine Advisory Committees
• Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ)
• Queensland Conservation Council (QCC)
• Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF)
• Queensland Ports Association
• Queensland Resources Council (QRC)
• Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA)
• Regional Natural Resource Management Groups Collective
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Australia)
Last month UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee acknowledged the significant and unprecedented work undertaken by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments on Reef protection and management, recommending against the Great Barrier Reef being listed as “in danger”.
The World Heritage Committee acknowledged the strong response that Australia and Queensland have put in place through the development and implementation of the Reef 2050 Plan.
This includes the recent announcements of more than $200 million in additional funding ($100 million from each government) which brings the projected investment by both governments to well over $2 billion dollars over the next decade.
Our actions also include the unprecedented ban on the disposal of capital dredge material in the entire World Heritage Area and restrictions on port development.
The World Heritage Committee will make a final decision on the status of the Reef at their meeting in Bonn, Germany next week.
Australians are rightfully proud of the Great Barrier Reef and recognise its immense biological, economic and cultural value.
The Commonwealth and Queensland Governments, and the community, are all working together and share a strong commitment to protect the Great Barrier Reef for future generations.
(ENDS)