Coffee, crocodiles and coral: Prime Minister’s trip to Cairns to announce $1b reef funding

FROM coffee to coral and even feeding crocodiles, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit to Cairns on Friday had it all.

FROM coffee to coral and even feeding crocodiles, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit to Cairns on Friday had it all.

But he and Environment Minister Sussan Ley couldn’t escape questions about whether the $1 billion funding they were there to announce to protect the Great Barrier Reef over the next nine years, went far enough.

In making the announcement on Green Island on Friday afternoon, the Prime Minister said it was “an absolute thrill” to be able to visit one of the natural wonders of the world and “take it all in”.

“We want to see people from around the world and across Australia taking this in for generations and generations to come.”

QLD_CP_NEWS_PMREEFANNOUNCEMENT_28JAN21

He made special mention of the local tourism operators he’d been able to speak to earlier in the day, and hear from them first hand of what has been “a really tough time for people in Far North Queensland” since the pandemic began and international borders closed.

“This is the industry that is more reliant on international tourism than any part of the tourism industry, anywhere in the country. I know that from experience,” he said.

The $1b funding package, which Mr Morrison said was “in the budget” – due to be handed down in May – includes $579.9m to improve water quality, $252.9m for reef management and conservation, $92.7m to research and deploy world leading reef resilience science and adaptation strategies, and $74.4m for Traditional Owner and community-led projects.

“It’s the right package for Far North Queensland, it’s the right package for the Reef, and frankly, it’s the right package for the globe’s keen interest in the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Morrison said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, his wife Jenny Morrison, Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley, Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch at Green Island, off the coast of Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Reef was again thrust into the international spotlight in June 2021 when the UNESCO World Heritage Committee threatened to place the world heritage wonder on the “in danger” list.

After concerted lobbying from Ms Ley, the committee agreed to defer deciding the issue until 2023.

When asked on Friday whether the $1b would save the reef from an “in danger” listing, the Prime Minister deferred to Ms Ley, who said stumping up the money was “responding to the call that we’ve always had as a Coalition Government to protect this reef”.

“The point I made when I visited European world heritage ambassadors last year was come and have a look,” she said.

“A report is going to be submitted next week and we hope a reactive monitoring mission comes to the reef and does actually inspect everything that’s going on – the science, the communities, the work that is going on to protect (it).”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison feeds chicken to Cassius, the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity at 5 metres long. Cassius is the star attraction at Marineland Crocodile Park on Green Island, off the coast of Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

During her funding announcement, Ms Ley acknowledged that climate change was known to be the biggest threat to the reef.

Both the Prime Minister and Ms Ley swatted away questions around whether the government’s commitment to climate change action went far enough and whether the funding was too little, too late.

The Prime Minister touched down in Cairns around 10am with his wife Jenny, Ms Ley, Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch, and entourage in tow, before stopping by the Blu Marlin Bistro at the Reef Fleet Terminal for a coffee and a chat.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny Morrison meet Gold Coast tourists Joanne Grady, Amelia Wells, 14 months, Scott Wells and Piper Wells, 5, at the Cairns Marlin Marine before heading to Green Island off Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

Then it was off to Green Island about a Quicksilver vessel, where there was time for a tour of the Marineland Croc Park.

There, Mr Entsch regaled his boss with a tale from his time as a croc hunter, a lifetime ago, in front of the preserved skin of one of the crocodiles he had caught – Bone Cruncher.

“With 3600 pounds per square inch of pressure when he slams those jaws shut, I reckon he’d do a job on your bones,” Mr Entsch said.

And the Prime Minister even got the opportunity to feed Cassius – the huge, ancient reptile who holds the title of the largest crocodile in captivity – before a crowd of cameras.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley, Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch and Prime Minister Scott Morrison look at the skinned remains of a saltwater crocodile called Bone Cruncher at Marineland Crocodile Park on Green Island, off the coast of Cairns. Warren Entsch caught the crocodile off Cooktown in his previous job as a croc hunter. Picture: Brendan Radke

After a brief walk around the island, some photos with tourists, and a quick look at some coral in a glass bottom boat, the Prime Minister and his crew headed back to Cairns.

He will stay in Cairns tonight catching up with local LNP members, before heading to the Sunshine Coast region on Saturday.

Originally published as Coffee, crocodiles and coral: Prime Minister’s trip to Cairns to announce $1b reef funding