Annastacia Palaszczuk slammed for Great Barrier Reef plan delay in leaked documents

Leaked documents reveal the Palaszczuk government’s refusal to release the Great Barrier Reef 2050 plan. SEE THE LETTERS

The Queensland state government has been accused of playing politics with the future of the Great Barrier Reef by refusing to make public a report which sets out how to best protect the world’s largest coral reef system.

Australia’s former Chief Scientist and head of the Reef 2050 independent Expert Panel Professor Ian Chubb slammed the delay, as did federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley.

“An enormous amount of work has gone into this from a lot of people,” Professor Chubb told News Corp Australia of the Great Barrier Reef 2050 sustainability plan.

“It’s been substantially updated. Our basic position was to release it, get things going, and be prepared to adjust it as more information comes to hand.”

Head of the Reef 2050 independent Expert Panel, Professor Ian Chubb.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

In a letter from the Queensland Premier to Prime Minister Scott Morrison in July, Annastacia Palaszczuk tied discussion of the reef’s future to a series of requests including $2 billion in federal government funding for renewable energy as well as land restoration and water quality improvement projects.

In the letter – sent one week before a crucial World Heritage Commission (WHC) meeting which could have seen the reef slapped with an “in danger” listing – Ms Palaszczuk stated funding of the initiatives would send the WHC a “strong signal”.

In response, Mr Morrison urged Ms Palaszczuk to release the Reef 2050 plan, saying it would “strengthen our advocacy efforts and set the framework for considering future reef funding”.

Days later, Acting Premier Steven Miles replied, saying the Queensland government supported the release of the plan as an “operational draft” only.

In the end, the WHC put off its listing decision until 2023, but also brought forward a deadline for Australia to report back on the reef to February 2022.

See the explosive documents below:

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley slammed the Palaszczuk government for the “crazy” delay, saying she signed off on the plan on July 6 after being assured of Queensland’s support.

“While the plan we developed with Queensland gathers dust on Minister Scanlon’s shelf, the tourism industry, local fishers, scientists and the greater reef-going public are kept in the dark as to exactly what our plan is,” Ms Ley said.

“There is nothing to stop us working together to add to the plan as we go forward, but it is disrespectful to the scientists, communities and other experts involved to suggest it is a draft and it creates uncertainty and risks delaying investment decisions from a range of stakeholders.”

Ms Ley said the plan was a critical component of Australia’s case to the world about its management of the 2300km-long natural wonder.

“We need to engage communities with a clear plan that is ready to go, not play politics on other issues,” she said.

“This is a time when we need to showcase the outstanding reef management that is taking place, not cast doubt.”

Federal Environement Minister Sussan Ley. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Queensland’s Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Meaghan Scanlon. Picture Brian Cassey

Queensland’s Environment Minister Meagan Scanlon defended the government’s position, saying a draft plan “communicates to the global community that both levels of government are prepared to consider amendments, do more and keep working to protect thereof.”

“The World Heritage Committee has made it clear that any reef plan must include accelerated action to address the threat of climate change in accordance with the Paris Agreement. To sign off on the current draft of the plan would be an insult to the global community, and the communities that so heavily rely on our reef,” Ms Scanlon said.

Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: TTNQ

The plan takes a far stronger position on global warming than any previous plans, Prof Chubb said, but it also didn’t set out how the federal government should respond to climate change.

“That’s a different ball game as far as we’re concerned,” he said. “Our job is looking at what happens on the reef.”

Marine scientist Gareth Phillips is also the CEO of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators. Picture: Brendan Radke

Gareth Phillips, CEO of the Association of Marine Park Tour Operators and a member of the Reef 2050 advisory committee, said the delay in the release of the plan was hard to understand.

“The idea of the plan is that it is in place for five years and then it gets reviewed and updated as we get new information, and we’ve gone through that,” he said. “Stakeholders and the independent Expert Panel made up of scientists have all said let’s get it out.”

Mr Phillips said it was important for state and federal governments to show a “united front” with regards to the reef, particularly in regards to the WHC.

Prof Chubb said the plan should already be in the hands of industry, farmers, local governments and communities for discussion.

“It’s important to get [the plan] out there, and get it discussed,” he said. “All I say is let’s do something; let’s not pretend that she’ll be right, because she won’t be right unless we do something,” he said.