Federal Labor has declared protecting the Great Barrier Reef one of its highest priorities, pledging $377 million in new funding for better management and research.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten flew to Cairns on Monday to reveal a $500 million fund to boost research, improve water quality and eradicate pests like the crown of thorns starfish.
The new money adds to the $123 million already pledged by the federal government.
It includes a $50 million cash injection for the CSIRO for reef-specific research, which will include a focus on the impacts of climate change.
"The Great Barrier Reef is an environmental treasure Australia holds on trust for the world," Mr Shorten said.
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The reef is the world's largest coral system and is estimated to bring in $6 billion each year while creating 70,000 jobs.
The world heritage site faces risks from ocean warming and acidification, severe weather and water contamination from nearby agriculture, including run off of nitrogen from fertilisers.
Recent mass bleaching has killed off half of the northern part of the reef, an event scientists strongly link to global warming.
Mr Shorten accused Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of letting Australians down with a lack of commitment to climate change and the reef.
"It is unacceptable that the Liberals have stuck their heads in the sand when it comes to protecting the reef," he said.
Labor's plan includes:
- $50 million for CSIRO Marine for reef specific research
- $50 million for reef research through universities
- $300 million investment in improving water quality and reducing sediment run off
- Boost number of boats culling crown of thorns starfish from one to three
- $100 million to bring all reef management bodies together
Pledge 'Not Enough' To Save Reef
The Fight For The Reef campaign has welcomed the ALP announcement as a good first step but said much more funding was needed.
“This package of measures will not be enough to turn around the decline of our national icon,” Australian Marine Conservation Society spokesperson, Imogen Zethoven said.
“It will not be enough to secure 69,000 Reef jobs along the Queensland coast”.
AMCS said the plan was a 'missed opportunity' for the strong action needed to ensure the Reef has a healthy future. The AMCS said it would support regulation to set a cap on pollution entering the Reef, along with better farm management and catchment repair, to give the Reef clean water.
Most Coral Dead In Central Sections
New figures released today reveal an average of 35% of coral was now dead or dying in central parts of the Great Barrier Reef. The surveys led by the Australian Research Council's Centre for Excellence for Coral Reef Studies examined 84 reefs. The coral bleaching at the world heritage site has been described as an 'unprecedented environmental disaster,' by WWF-Australia.
"We need the strongest possible action to slow down the warming of the oceans, and give the Reef the clean water it needs to recover from this bleaching disaster," WWF-Australia spokesperson Nick Heath said.
"Both major parties say they have plans to tackle global warming, but give more than $7.7 billion a year in tax payer funds in fossil fuel subsidies that fuel global warming."
Coral bleaches in warmer sea temperatures, if the temperature doesn't cool over a long period of time the coral dies and gets taken over by seaweed. The ARCC research found, on reefs south of Cairns, 95% of the corals have survived.
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Coalition Tackles Starfish
A re-elected Turnbull government meanwhile will invest $6 million for an additional control vessel to tackle crown-of-thorns starfish on the Reef.
Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, said the species can have a devastating impact.
"Building a strong, resilient and healthy Great Barrier Reef is a high priority for the Coalition," Minister Hunt said.
"Destroying the coral-eating predator is essential in order to protect [the Reef.]"
Mr Turnbull maintains he's committed to climate change action, however has stuck with the widely criticised policies of his predecessor Tony Abbott.
Labor plans to implement an emissions trading scheme, although details of the final model are vague.
The Environment Department recently intervened to prevent the reef being listed in a United Nations agency report detailing the risks of climate change on world heritage sites.
The department maintains the report could have a negative impact on tourism but environment groups say the intervention amounts to government censorship.
The United Nations World Heritage Committee last year decided against listing the reef on its "in danger" list, pledging to closely monitor its progress.
