Prime Minister Tony Abbott has promised a further $100 million toward the protection of the Great Barrier Reef, in a bid to avoid the embarrassment of it being listed as an endangered site.
The Abbott government pledged the extra funds on the weekend, which will be allocated to an independent panel and the reef’s nearby landowners who are expected to come up with ideas on how to improve the water quality as part of their land management practices, Fairfax reports.
The paper cites the new plan allows for the expansion of coal terminals in the region, but bans new dredge spoil dumping in the Reef Marine Park, but not in the wider area.
The World Heritage site is under threat of being listed as “in danger” when UNESCO convenes in June, according to reports.
“We are utterly committed as an entire nation to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef,” Abbott said in press conference on Saturday, Fairfax reports.
“The last thing I want to do as Prime Minister is anything that would compromise the quality of this reef.”
“If there was one bit of beautiful environment anywhere in the world that truly deserves World-Heritage listing, it’s this.”
“We are making our position clear right around the world that this is a number-one priority of the Australian government.”
However, Greenpeace claim the 35-year protection plan will not be enough to save the reef while climate change remains its biggest threat and the government continues to allow an expansion of the coal industry.
The environmental group was reported by Skift saying “Australia’s plan is “almost silent” on the issue”.
The government initially put $40 million toward a reef trust as part of the 2050 plan.
Some 2 million tourists visit the Great Barrier Reef each year.
Image credit: News.com.au
