Discord over reef science review

A Senate inquiry into farm water running off into the Great Barrier Reef has delivered a split ­report on the need for better quality assurance.

A scuba diver explores coral gardens on Saxon Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Senate inquiry into farm water running off into the Great Barrier Reef has delivered a split ­report on the need for better quality assurance, with the Labor-led majority strongly ­defending the integrity of the current process.

But a dissenting reporting by Coalition members said the Queensland government and commonwealth should establish an office of scientific review to evaluate the existing science of the Great Barrier Reef.

Environment groups welcomed the majority view but Queensland’s peak farm body, AgForce, said the report underlined the need for a “truly independent (review) to ensure research, analysis and conclusions underlying Reef protection legislation was valid and ­effective”.

Peter Ridd, the scientist sacked by James Cook ­University over his stance on research into the Great Barrier Reef, said the report justified his stand.

“Commenting on poor ­quality assurance of reef science was what got me fired from James Cook University so it is nice to see this vindication,” he said.

The inquiry was sparked by concerns over new regulations on Queensland farmers to improve water quality.

The hearings produced heated arguments from farm groups and leading scientists.

But the final report concluded that while the evidential base was lacking, it was “satisfied that the evidence shows strong linkages between agricultural practices and the decline in water quality in the Reef”.