Australian Government to boost partnerships to save Great Barrier Reef

The Australian and Queensland governments announced in a press release their continued commitment with all sectors and levels of government to improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef. The government has released the second edition of the Reef 2050 Plan Implementation Strategy that would prioritise the implementation of methods for protecting the Reef.

The government’s initiative, the Reef Trust, is aiming to boost the interest of the corporate sector, investors, philanthropic organisations and individuals to work with the Australian and Queensland governments. The potential partnerhsip could help provide projects that will significantly help improve the Reef's health.

Organisations could help by providing ideas and innovative projects that the government might co-fund through Reef Trust, Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt said at the 41st meeting of the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum in Melbourne.

“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made so far in implementing the Reef 2050 Plan and this is in no small part due to all sectors working together under a unified plan,” he stated. “To give ourselves the best chance of helping improve the health of the Reef we must explore ways to diversify funding and invite further investment from other areas of the community.”

The new edition of the Reef 2050 Plan Implementation Strategy will focus on five key areas in 2016. These include the improvement of the sustainability of ports, engagement with Traditional Owners and the work for better water quality under the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan and the Reef Trust.

The plan will also focus on the development of an investment framework to deliver the Reef 2050 Plan and to improve monitoring of social, economic and environmental outcomes in the Reef.

Dr Steven Miles, Queensland Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef, said the momentum was building through the Reef 2050 Plan. The government has already passed legislation and regulation that would reduce the impact of ports and dredging on the Reef, while three net free fishing zones in Cairns, Mackay and Keppel Bay have been established to protect the Reef.

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