THE Turnbull Government is doing more than ever before to protect the Great Barrier Reef and the 2016 Budget strengthens this commitment with a $171.0 million boost.
“This investment is a testament to the Government’s ongoing commitment to protecting this natural treasure,” Minister Hunt said.
“Included in this is a $70 million additional injection to the Reef Trust bringing the Government’s total investment in the Reef Trust to $210 million.
“The Reef Trust invests in practical on-the-ground projects that boost water quality a key objective of the Government’s historic Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan and which is part of our commitment to the World Heritage Committee on ensuring the Reef is protected for future generations to enjoy.”
The Turnbull Government is implementing the Reef 2050 Plan to protect and manage the Reef for future generations.
“The Budget allocates $101 million from within the National Landcare Programme to support the implementation of the Reef 2050 Plan,” Mr Entsch said.
“The Reef 2050 Plan and the Reef Trust are already addressing key threats to the Reef by improving water quality and coastal habitats, mitigating outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish and protecting threatened and migratory species such as dugong and turtles.
“It’s these projects which will make the Reef more resilient as we address the challenges of climate change and the current coral bleaching event which has affected reefs around the world.”
Mr Entsch said the funds form part of a projected investment of more than $2 billion from Australian governments to protect the Great Barrier Reef over the next decade.
“This isn’t just talk, we’ve already committed nearly $100 million from the now-$210 million Reef Trust to real and tangible projects.
“Our work to protect the great Barrier Reef resulted in the World Heritage Committee declaring last July that Australia was a global role model for the management of World Heritage properties and that the Reef would not be listed ‘in danger’, but would instead be returned to full status.”
