Labor delivers for Reef tourism

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water

Senator Nita Green, Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef

The Albanese Labor Government will today launch a $15.1 million Great Barrier Reef initiative to help tourism businesses recover from COVID-19.

Twenty-six tourism operators along the Reef have been selected through a competitive tender process to participate in the initiative which will enhance the scope of monitoring and conservation of the Reef as visitors return to the World Heritage Area.

The successful tourism operators will undertake work on:

• Reef health and impact monitoring
• Facilitation of on-country visits for Traditional Owners to support reconnecting with country
• Crown-of-thorns starfish control
• Drupella snail removal
• Reef education resources
• Development of interpretation content, talks and tours that better connects visitors to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
• Permitted site-intervention activities such as coral gardening

Today's launch of the Great Barrier Reef Tourism Protection Initiative follows the delivery of a record $1.2 billion for the Great Barrier Reef in the Federal Budget.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP:

"The Albanese Labor Government is taking strong and immediate action on climate change and investing a record $1.2 billion to 2030 to protect, manage and restore the Reef.

"The Government is committed to supporting recovery for the Reef, which employs more than 60,000 people and contributes billions of dollars to the economy each year."

"I am proud of what the Labor Government has delivered to protect the Great Barrier Reef since we were elected in May.

"This funding will ensure our Reef's health improves and thrives into the future."

Quotes attributable to Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Senator Nita Green:

"An investment in the Reef is an investment in regional communities right along the Queensland coast.

"Our Tourism Reef Protection Initiative will provide further support for the marine tourism industry as it continues to respond to COVID-19 impacts."

"The stewardship provided by these operators, in close partnership with the Reef Authority, will provide improved Reef health monitoring capacity, conservation and protection activities across the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area."

"The services will be delivered by a diverse array of tourism operations, from island-based to long-range expedition style operations including small to medium sized businesses through to large multi-faceted marine tourism operations."

Attachment A: The marine tourism operations that have been awarded Commonwealth Service Contracts under the Tourism Reef Protection Initiative.