Plans for the preservation and protection for the Great Barrier Reef have dominated headlines during the campaign with it becoming an issue for electors at the ballot box in Queensland and throughout the country.
The Coalition and Labor party have released their election platforms for how they will protect the Great Barrier Reef if elected. Both are offering significant Reef investment with broad ranging commitments to assist the agriculture sector to play its part in Reef recovery.
The Coalition has committed to delivering a $1 billion Reef Fund plan over the next 10 years. This commitment is on top of the $461 million already committed since taking government.
The Reef Fund will be administered through the Clean Energy Finance Commission (CEFC) and will provide low cost finance for projects that deliver clean energy, reduce emissions and improve water quality. This holistic approach addresses two of the major impactors on the Reef for intensive agriculture: water quality and costs of electricity.
The Labor party has committed $500 million over five years including more funding for monitoring the Reef and improving water quality. Labor's plan focuses on science and research, direct environmental investment and improvements to reef management.
QFF welcomes both announcements, but notes that neither party has released much in the way of detail on how the funding will be allocated.
This provides an opportunity for whichever party forms government to engage in a constructive and balanced discussion with key stakeholders about delivery. QFF considers the Reef Alliance model would be a good starting point.
The QFF led Reef Alliance, consisting of industry, Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), is a constructive and productive partnership focused on delivering water quality outcomes for the Reef while maximising profitable productive agricultural landscape.
The model must be considered for further investment if either party is serious about saving the Great Barrier Reef.
