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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Coalition releases long-term plan for Great Barrier Reef | Coalition releases long-term plan for Great Barrier Reef |
| (17 days later) | |
| The Coalition has announced a multi-million-dollar plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef which has been cautiously welcomed by environmental groups who say the policy does not go far enough. | The Coalition has announced a multi-million-dollar plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef which has been cautiously welcomed by environmental groups who say the policy does not go far enough. |
| The opposition environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, released the Coalition’s plan for the reef on Monday morning, promising a $40m “trust fund” with $2m being set aside for the Australian Crime Commission to investigate the illegal poaching and transportation of dugongs, turtles and their meat. | The opposition environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, released the Coalition’s plan for the reef on Monday morning, promising a $40m “trust fund” with $2m being set aside for the Australian Crime Commission to investigate the illegal poaching and transportation of dugongs, turtles and their meat. |
| Money from the trust fund will be used to reduce crown-of-thorns starfish which damage the reef, and improve the coastal habitat with a focus on runoff from farms. | Money from the trust fund will be used to reduce crown-of-thorns starfish which damage the reef, and improve the coastal habitat with a focus on runoff from farms. |
| The Australian Marine Conservation Society welcomed the policy but said action on coastal developments was urgently needed. | The Australian Marine Conservation Society welcomed the policy but said action on coastal developments was urgently needed. |
| “The new emerging threat to the reef’s coastline is mega-port development, dredging, dumping and increased shipping. The public knows it. Unesco knows it. Scientists know it. And fishermen know it. But the Coalition has ignored this,” said Felicity Wishart, the Great Barrier Reef campaign director for AMCS. | “The new emerging threat to the reef’s coastline is mega-port development, dredging, dumping and increased shipping. The public knows it. Unesco knows it. Scientists know it. And fishermen know it. But the Coalition has ignored this,” said Felicity Wishart, the Great Barrier Reef campaign director for AMCS. |
| “The World Heritage Committee has called for new developments such as major ports to stop until there can be a proper assessment of the environmental impacts.” | “The World Heritage Committee has called for new developments such as major ports to stop until there can be a proper assessment of the environmental impacts.” |
| Earlier this year Unesco said Australia needed to rein in major coastal developments or risk having the reef listed as a World Heritage site "in danger". Unesco will review the reef's status listing in June next year. | Earlier this year Unesco said Australia needed to rein in major coastal developments or risk having the reef listed as a World Heritage site "in danger". Unesco will review the reef's status listing in June next year. |
| While the Coalition acknowledged “the need for a strategic approach to future development” it did not go into specifics in the policy announcement. | While the Coalition acknowledged “the need for a strategic approach to future development” it did not go into specifics in the policy announcement. |
| “I hope that in 2050 we look back and note that this was a turning point in how we addressed the threats to the reef in a focused and strategic way,” Hunt said. | “I hope that in 2050 we look back and note that this was a turning point in how we addressed the threats to the reef in a focused and strategic way,” Hunt said. |
| “A particular focus will be to help farmers reduce nutrient runoff and therefore maintain or lift productivity while improving water quality on the reef.” | “A particular focus will be to help farmers reduce nutrient runoff and therefore maintain or lift productivity while improving water quality on the reef.” |
| The fund will be co-funded by the federal government and Queensland state government and a $5m protection fund for dugongs and turtles will also be set up. | The fund will be co-funded by the federal government and Queensland state government and a $5m protection fund for dugongs and turtles will also be set up. |
| Of that money, $2m will go to a specialised Indigenous Ranger Program for marine conservation along the Far North Queensland Coast and for strengthened enforcement and compliance. Penalties for poaching dugongs and turtles will also be tripled. | Of that money, $2m will go to a specialised Indigenous Ranger Program for marine conservation along the Far North Queensland Coast and for strengthened enforcement and compliance. Penalties for poaching dugongs and turtles will also be tripled. |
| Earlier this month, the Coalition pledged to maintain existing funding of $200m over the next five years for Labor's Reef Rescue program. | Earlier this month, the Coalition pledged to maintain existing funding of $200m over the next five years for Labor's Reef Rescue program. |
| The $40m trust fund would be included in this program. | The $40m trust fund would be included in this program. |
| On the Gold Coast last week, Tony Abbott announced that if he was elected the marine park management laws ushered through in the last days of the previous parliament would be scrapped. | On the Gold Coast last week, Tony Abbott announced that if he was elected the marine park management laws ushered through in the last days of the previous parliament would be scrapped. |
| He also said marine park boundaries would be reviewed by a scientific panel. | He also said marine park boundaries would be reviewed by a scientific panel. |
| "We do not want to lock up our oceans," he said. | "We do not want to lock up our oceans," he said. |
| Abbott added: "We won't make decisions that damage the lives and livelihoods of people without talking to people first.” | Abbott added: "We won't make decisions that damage the lives and livelihoods of people without talking to people first.” |
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