Murray Watts fights to save Great Barrier Reef from UNESCO endangered list

Environment Minister Murray Watt has detailed Australia's efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef as UNESCO weighs whether to place it on its endangered list.

Minister for the Environment Murray Watt tells of the fight to protect the Great Barrier Reef at the Smart Energy Conference in Brisbane on Tuesday. Picture: Sarah Marshall

Environment Minister Murray Watt has lobbied UNESCO to keep the Great Barrier Reef off the endangered list by spruiking federal and state resilience programs ahead of a looming deadline.

At the Smart Energy Conference in Brisbane on Tuesday, Senator Watt said reef restoration and resilience programs around water quality and the eradication of the crown-of-thorns starfish were part of a pitch to keep the world heritage site off the list of concern, which could have flow-on economic ­effects.

“We have been making the case that both at a federal and state government level, we are taking serious action, putting serious investment into protecting the reef – that’s our reason for saying the reef should not be given an endangered listing,” he said.

“Of course, the Great Barrier Reef is a world-famous and globally important environmental asset. It’s also a really important economic asset here for Queensland, with the tourism industry, and we want to do everything we can to protect it.”

Senator Watt did not meet with a delegation from the UN environment and science agency, which toured the country in August because of parliament sitting in Canberra.

However, he confirmed he spoke with UNESCO representatives in Paris in July, where he also lobbied for the ­Murujuga rock art complex in Western Australia to receive world heritage status.

It comes ahead of the government being expected to submit a report to UNESCO in February, demonstrating improvements on the reef.

If progress falls short, the reef faces being listed on the agency’s List of World Heritage in Danger.

UNESCO has previously acknowledged a “recent recovery” of the reef.

In August, the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s long-term monitoring program revealed record declines in hard coral due to cyclones and bleaching, but acknowledged coverage remained around the historic ­average.

Senator Watt would not say whether the decision sets a precedent for other world heritage sites, affirming the government’s position on the reef. He also used his speech at the event to unveil new environmental zoning reforms while lashing the Queensland Liberal National Party government for stifling investment opportunities in the sector and regional jobs by cancelling renewables projects.

Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie used his planning powers in May to axe a $1bn approved wind farm at Moonlight Range, 40km north of Rockhampton, and canned a second project near Gympie last week.

“Short-sighted decisions like this only make it harder for the Queensland government to reduce power bills or achieve their own emission reduction targets,” Senator Watt said.

The new planning laws will create “go” and “no go” zones in various regions across the country to move away from project-by-project development approvals and give industry confidence.