A government report prepared for UNESCO on actions taken to stop the Great Barrier Reef losing its World Heritage status highlights that without community and Greens pressure, the Albanese government would have nothing to boast about.
As stated by Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:
"The most significant measure taken by the government to protect the Great Barrier Reef has only come about because of community and Greens pressure.
"Deforestation was listed as a key factor in UNESCO's decision whether to list the Great Barrier Reef as in danger or not - and the only reason vegetation within 50 metres of Reef catchments now receives assessment under Australia's environment laws is because the community and Greens fought for it.
"Tackling local threats like deforestation are obviously very important for the Reef's short term protection, but they won't save the Great Barrier Reef from being annihilated by the political stupidity of ripping open new coal and gas projects in a climate crisis.
"Obvious to everyone except Labor is that you simply cannot truly protect the Great Barrier Reef by making climate change worse.
"It is hypocritical for Labor to think it can be the trusted guardian of the world's greatest natural wonder while also the third biggest exporter of fossil fuels on the planet.
"So long as Labor is content with ripping open new coal and gas projects that are cooking our oceans, the Great Barrier Reef is at risk of losing its World Heritage values forever."
