Election 2022: Labor to re-heat pledge for reef

Anthony Albanese will pledge nearly $500m for the Great Barrier Reef, conservation and the protection of native animals.

Labor plans to invest a total of $1.2bn in the Great Barrier Reef by 2030. Picture: Shannon Myers / Down Under Cruise and Dive

Anthony Albanese will pledge nearly $500m for the Great Barrier Reef, conservation and the protection of native animals as Labor moves to promote its environmental credentials.

The Opposition Leader will on Friday visit the regional Queensland seat of Leichhardt to rehash an existing policy to commit $194.5m in reef protection programs, including $85m for “shovel-ready catchment and reef-restoration projects”.

The policy, announced in January, also includes $15m for marine research in the southern part of the reef. It will also double funding for the Reef 2050 program jointly run by the Queensland government and the federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

Labor will also promise to spend $224.5m over the next four years on a national conservation strategy, including supporting the recovery of endangered species such as koalas. There will also be a $75m commitment to employ 1000 landcare rangers to work on conservation projects.

Mr Albanese plans to invest a total of $1.2bn in the Great Barrier Reef by 2030, saying the reef is under “immediate threat from inaction on climate change”.

“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.”

With Mr Albanese using Labor premiers to help him campaign against Scott Morrison, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk lashed out at the Prime Minister’s commitment to the Great Barrier Reef.

“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 Queensland government welcomes these commitments to improving our catchments.”

YouGov polling shows the only Queensland seat Labor is on track to win is Brisbane, but the ALP believes it is also a chance of winning the outer-Brisbane seat of Longman and the regional seat of Leichhardt.