Amid a series of reports detailing the poor state of the reef, Malcolm Turnbull is promising improved water quality and clean energy for the region

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Malcolm Turnbull has promised that a re-elected Coalition government will protect the Great Barrier Reef by tackling its two biggest challenges – climate change and water quality.

The prime minister will pledge to set up a new $1bn reef fund with $1bn – taken from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation’s $10bn special account – to invest in projects that will improve water quality, reduce emissions and provide clean energy in the reef catchment region.

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The fund would deliver the $1bn over 10 years and build on $461m in funding already committed to the reef since the Coalition came to office.

“Climate change is the greatest long-term threat to the Great Barrier Reef and to all coral reefs around the world,” Turnbull said, adding that the government’s plan to protect the reef stood in “stark contrast” to Labor’s record of mismanagement.

“Australia is playing its part in the global climate change effort through signing the Paris agreement and implementing policies to reduce Australia’s emissions.

“The $1bn reef fund builds on the Coalition’s existing policies, including the landmark reef 2050 long-term sustainability plan, as well as the innovative reef trust which is improving water quality and fighting the coral-eating crown of thorns starfish.”

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The policy comes amid a flurry of reports about the poor state of the reef.

Surveys have revealed that 93% of the almost 3,000 individual reefs in the reef system have been touched by bleaching this year, and almost a quarter – 22% – of coral over the entire Great Barrier Reef has been killed by this bleaching event.

Many scientists believe it could be too late for the rest.

A study found that on the current warming trajectory, within 20 years the conditions that caused this year’s bleaching would be normal on the reef.

The Greens say they want coal companies to start paying “for the damage they are doing” to the teef and they have announced a plan to tax miners heavily and use the money to revitalise the reef and to invest in clean energy projects and jobs.

Labor has promised to invest $500m over five years to boost scientific monitoring and management of the reef, and say it will adopt every recommendation in the Great Barrier Reef water science taskforce final report, released in May.

Turnbull said he was committed to protecting the reef for future generations, and his $1bn in funding would “support clean energy projects that reduce runoff of pollutants, fertiliser and sediment, and it will support the installation of more energy and water efficient irrigation systems, pesticide sprayers and fertiliser application systems”.

“The fund will also help coastal sewage treatment plants to reduce ocean outfalls with efficient pumps, biogas electricity generation and next-generation waste water treatment. Improving water quality will enhance the reef’s resilience to climate change, coral bleaching and outbreaks of the destructive crown of thorns starfish.”

The $1bn that will come from the reef fund is not new funding.