Australian Marine Conservation Society calls on Ian Poiner to take ‘aggressive’ stance on reef’s behalf

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The Australian government has appointed marine scientist Ian Poiner as the new chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, days after a dire new forecast for coral bleaching was issued.

The appointment to the authority, which manages the reef and advises the government on its care, also comes months after the government granted $443m in reef funding to the private Great Barrier Reef Foundation instead of key agencies including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Another round of mass coral bleaching caused by heat stress has been forecast for the reef this summer by the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

Poiner is a former chief executive of the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the current chairman of the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC). He will take over from the outgoing chair and chief executive, Russell Reichelt.

The RRRC has been the subject of controversy recently over its management of crown-of-thorns starfish projects on the Great Barrier Reef.

“Dr Poiner is a highly respected marine scientist with international science credentials and board leadership experience,” the environment minister, Melissa Price, said on Monday.

Great Barrier Reef forecast warns entire system at risk of bleaching and coral death this summer Read more

“He has a long history of involvement in Great Barrier Reef science and conservation, and is a former CEO of the Australian Institute of Marine Science. I have no doubt he will make a significant contribution to the continued health and resilience of the reef.”

Price said Poiner had resigned from his position as the chair of the RRRC.

The announcement also follows recent calls for improved governance at Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority after the board member Margie McKenzie agreed to resign over potential conflicts of interest in relation to $20m in tenders managed by the body.

Poiner said on Monday the authority played an important role in ensuring the reef was protected “by managing the delicate balance between conservation and sustainable use”.

“As a scientist, and through my involvement in other science organisations, I have a strong interest in reef health and management and look forward to working with fellow board members,” he said.

“I’m particularly interested in how threats are impacting the Great Barrier Reef and what actions can be taken to improve its resilience, which is a key focus of the Marine Park Authority’s work.”

The Australian Marine Conservation Society welcomed the appointment but called on Poiner to take an “aggressive conservation stance” on behalf of the reef.

“His most urgent and important task is to call on the federal government to undertake rapid and far-reaching action to tackle climate change to protect the future of the Great Barrier Reef,” Imogen Zethoven, the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s Great Barrier Reef campaign director said.

“We urge Dr Poiner to tell the minister for environment, Melissa Price, that we stand to lose the reef unless the federal government rules out any new thermal coalmines including Adani’s Carmichael mine and switches rapidly to renewable energy in the next decade.”

Poiner has been appointed under new governance arrangements for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which were recommended after an independent review of the authority last year and took effect on Monday.

Among the recommendations were that the position of chair and chief executive of the authority be separated and that the authority’s board should comprise seven members.

The review said this should include a CEO and a part-time chair “of integrity, national credibility and standing who would not be perceived as representing a reef interest group”.

The government accepted all of the review’s 24 recommendations.

Reichelt has led the authority for 11 years.

“Dr Reichelt is an outstanding scientist and marine park manager,” Price said. “He has successfully managed the world renowned Great Barrier Reef marine park over a time of significant environmental challenges and has implemented many substantial measures to improve the management of this world famous icon.”