Labor Leader Goes After Flailing Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Coal-Captured Ruling Coalition
The government agency that oversees the Great Barrier Reef has warned it is at risk of another summer of coral bleaching as the major parties prepare for an election campaign clash over management of the natural wonder. Visiting Queensland on Friday, Labor leader Anthony Albanese attacked the government’s environmental record as he pledged $163 million for conservation and to dismantle the controversial Great Barrier Reef Foundation championed by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Albanese said the foundation, which received $443 million in seed capital in 2018 and set a target to raise $357 million in private funds, had failed to deliver value for taxpayers. Australia’s Auditor-General found in May the organisation had raised just $54 million – 99 per cent of which was for in-kind services, with just $684,000 in cash donations.
The Opposition Leader also accused the government of being “hostage” to climate sceptics in the Coalition. “If you’re allowing [Nationals leader] Barnaby Joyce and the Nationals party to control your climate policy, then you’re not fair dinkum about protecting the reef. It’s as simple as that,” he said.
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While there have been consecutive La Nina weather events, which typically bring cooler conditions, in the past two years, Australia has warmed by 1.4 degrees, faster than the global average, and scientists warn the reef is now at risk of bleaching every summer. Global coral cover is forecast to decline 95 per cent under 2 degrees of warming, and 70 per cent under 1.5 degrees.
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https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/great-barrier-reef-election-battle-brews-amid-fears-of-more-coral-bleaching-20220107-p59mmj.html
