The Queensland Government is understood to be seeking to meet with UNESCO representatives, as it deals with the fall-out from its first major legislative defeat in the hung parliament, over laws it had promised the world heritage governing body would be in place to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

The Queensland Government's submission to the UNESCO committee looking at whether to list the reef, which is worth billions of dollars to the Queensland economy, as 'in danger' included a commitment to crack down on land clearing within the reef catchment, in an attempt to limit sediment run off.

Jackie Trad, Deputy Premier of Queensland, right, and Cameron Dick, Queensland Minister for Health at a protest this week of about 150 people who support reforming tree clearing laws. Credit:Andree Withey/ABC

But the legislation, which had been an election promise, to reinstate the laws the LNP had loosened to give landholders more control when it came to clearing native vegetation, faced strong opposition from farmers, agricultural lobby groups, the LNP, indigenous groups and in the end, the independents which the government needed to pass it.

After first believing it had Billy Gordon's vote, having made a commitment to explore the development and sustainability future of the Cape York, the Cook MP announced during the debate he would not be supporting the laws. The loss of his vote instantly lost the minority government the fight, with the LNP having already secured the Katter Party vote, bringing their numbers to the magic number of 45.