Tourism worker identifies threat to Reef as a key election issue

Having his livelihood linked to the Great Barrier Reef a tourism worker flags the environment as his top biggest election issue.

• Environment takes second top election issue
• FNQ rates cost of living as top election priority
• Cairns Post’s ‘Far North speaks’ election survey

WITH his livelihood directly linked to the Great Barrier Reef, Mike Crane sees the environment as one of the biggest issues in the lead-up to the Federal Election.

Working on boats visiting the Reef and Green Island, Mr Crane said some hard decisions had to be made in relation to coal mining and nutrient run-off.

“I am not a biologist, I don’t pretend to understand how it works but I think the Reef is under pressure,” he said.

The Cairns Post's Far North Speaks survey has revealed that after cost of living pressures, the environment is the biggest concern for Far North Queenslanders heading into the Federal election. Mike Crane, left, pictured with friends Stefania Battistel, Elia Vacilotto, 2, wife Jenny Crane and Francesco Vacilotto after a day on the water. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“What I am seeing is people coming out to take a look at the Reef because the information they’re getting is in five years, it’s going to be gone.

“I don’t think it is as bad as that (but it) is a concern because it is going to affect numbers down the track,” he said.

However, Mr Crane said he would not back a Greens or an independent candidate in the battle for Leichhardt.

“Right now, I am erring toward (Warren) Entsch, just because he has got runs on the board,” he said.

Originally published as Tourism worker identifies threat to Reef as a key election issue