The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most significant environmental assets. It is one of the most diverse and remarkable ecosystems in the world, supporting an outstanding array of plants and animals.
The widespread bleaching event occurring across the Great Barrier Reef is unprecedented in scale and severity. Only 7% of the coral reefs across the Great Barrier Reef have completely avoided bleaching.
The level of bleaching of the coral reefs is catastrophic in the northern sector. Along the length of the Great Barrier Reef from north to south, there is a gradient of decreasing severity, from severe to no sign of bleaching.
The Australian Sex Party will protect the Great Barrier Reef:
- Committing $250 million of Federal Funding over 5 years to address sediments, fertiliser and pesticides from farming flowing into the Reef’s water. This includes significant subsidies to cane growers and other farmers to introduce countermeasures such as preformed beds.
- Banning all offshore dumping of dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef and its surrounding area. On-shore dredging to be allowed only after thorough environmental impact studies conducted.
- The Australian Sex Party’s commitment to stop burning coal in an effort to reduce climate change and local environmental impacts will assist the protection of the Great Barrier Reef.
