Turnbull dives deep into budget for reef funds

EXCLUSIVE | Coalition to unveil a $400m package for the Great Barrier Reef as Malcolm Turnbull seeks to sandbag Queensland marginal seats.

A tourist examines the coral at Moore Reef, a section of the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns, yesterday. Picture: Stuart Ireland

A rescue package for the Great Barrier Reef worth more than $400 million will feature as the key environmental centrepiece in next month’s federal budget, as Malcolm Turnbull seeks to sandbag a band of marginal seats along the Queensland coast.

The funding, which includes $60m announced by the Prime Minister in January, will target projects aimed at conserving the 2300km-long coral structure, including missions to remove the deadly crown-of-thorns starfish, programs to reduce sediment run-off from agriculture and research about coral bleaching. The Australian understands the majority of the money would be spent in 2018-19, with the rest spread out over the forward estimates.

The Coalition has fought a twin campaign in Queensland’s north by backing the proposed Adani coal mine as a source of jobs in a sluggish regional economy and attempting to win votes by tackling environmental threats to the reef.

Three of the most marginal seats in the country are based in Queensland, and the Coalition is aiming to hold the key central and north Queensland seats of Dawson, Leichhardt, Flynn and Capricornia, and win back Herbert.

A marine heatwave in 2016 and last year damaged two-thirds of coral across the reef in an event that has been described as ­unprecedented and catastrophic, spooking tourism operators in Queensland’s far north and alarming tourists.

Sunlover Reef Cruises group sales and marketing manager Brian Hennessy said last night the bleaching was a problem, but a strong wet season had helped cool waters again. “Safeguarding the reef is good business, for Australia, for Queensland and us and it’s great to see large amounts of money thrown at the problem,” Mr Hennessy said.

German tourists Lucia Marrala, Carolin Tagscherer, Josephine Loeffler and Marie Schuett after a reef tour. Picture: Brian Cassey

German backpacker Carolin Tagscherer, 18, travelled to Australia late last year after her parents warned she might never see the Great Barrier Reef as it once was.

“I was out twice in an hour (yesterday) and it is such a magic place. I was surprised at how beautiful it was,” Ms Tagscherer said. “Back home in Germany we are all talking about climate change. My family said you need to see it before it is totally dead.”

Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg yesterday declined to comment on additional reef ­funding in the budget. “As is ­always the case there is plenty of budget speculation at this time of year,” Mr Frydenberg said.

“I look forward to seeing what is in the budget when it is handed down by the Treasurer in a couple of weeks’ time.”

In January, Mr Turnbull said the Great Barrier Reef was a “critical national asset” that protected Queensland’s coastal infrastructure, supported 64,000 jobs and provided $6.4 billion a year to the economy.

“We want to ensure its future for the benefit of all Australians, particularly those whose livelihood depends on the reef,” Mr Turnbull said.

Bill Shorten took a $500m reef protection policy to the last election and, before Christmas, ­accepted a $17,000 private green-funded tour of the Great Barrier Reef and charter flight over the Adani coalmine.

Tourism operators, including Mr Hennessy’s outfit, form part of a network that reports on damaged coral and the health of the reef whenever they take guests out on site.

“The reef is a 2300km-long wonder that runs down the Queensland coast and it needs different types of attention in different places, but the broad focus on the crown of thorns, sediment run-off and bleaching is the right one,” he said.

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee narrowly voted to keep the reef off the “in danger” list last July.

The tourist magnet was first listed as a world heritage site in 1981.

The next meeting of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee will be held in Bahrain in June.