Election 2022: Anthony Albanese announces plan for Great Barrier Reef

Anthony Albanese has outlined his plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef after a shocking report revealed the scale of coral bleaching.

Anthony Albanese has pledged almost $200m over the next three years in additional funding to the Great Barrier Reef, vowing to work with farmers to stop fertiliser run-off polluting the natural landmark and protect turtles, dugongs and dolphins from plastic.

Less than a week after a new report revealed warming ocean temperatures had led to the sixth mass bleaching event of the world’s largest coral ecosystem, Mr Albanese will promise to deliver new restoration programs which would bring total investment into the Great Barrier Reef to $1.2bn by 2030.

He said he would manage it differently to Scott Morrison by working in partnership with the Queensland government, First Nations people and businesses.

Queensland Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is using the announcement to take a swipe at the Coalition.

“The Morrison government’s approach to protecting the reef and the jobs that rely on it has been disappointing,” she said.

“It’s clear Anthony Albanese will work in real partnership with our government, landholders, experts, industry, traditional owners and reef communities.”

The additional funds would include $85m over the forward estimates for shovel ready catchment and reef restoration projects.

Labor would also double the funding for the Reef 250 Plan, which was last updated in December last year, amounting to an extra $94.5m.

A one-off grant of $15m would also go to the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Research Centre at CQ University in Gladstone to boost research.

“Seeing the wonder of the Great Barrier Reef is a highlight for so many Australians,” Mr Albanese said.

“But parents and grandparents are worried their children will not be able to see this incredible natural wonder for themselves.

“That’s why it’s so important we act on climate change and species protection – to protect the reef and the tens of thousands of jobs that rely on it.”

Labor also says it wants to work with farmers on more efficient fertiliser use, and to fence paddocks and install real-time water quality sensors to reduce pollution into the reef.

Protecting turtles, dugongs and dolphins from plastic pollution and illegal poaching is another promise.

Mr Albanese says they would have Indigenous rangers involved in preserving the reef.

His pledge comes after The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s annual snapshot this week detailed how more than 90 per cent of coral reefs surveyed suffered some form of bleaching.

It is the first mass bleaching event to occur under La Niña conditions.

Labor will also announce a $224.5m program to save koalas, which are now officially listed as endangered in many areas.

Originally published as Election 2022: Anthony Albanese announces plan for Great Barrier Reef