Long term protection for the Great Barrier Reef
Source: Australia. Minister for theEnvironment. Media Release
"The long term protection of the Great Barrier Reef will be significantly strengthened under
legislative changes introduced into Federal Parliament by the Minister for the
Environment Peter Garrett.
“The Great Barrier Reef is one of our most significant environmental assets. The amendments to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 I am announcing today will support the protection and ecologically sustainable use of the marine park,” Mr Garrett said. “The marine park established under the Act is one of the largest and best protected marine areas in the world and now covers an area of 344, 400 square kilometres. It is widely recognised as a model for marine management and conservation. “These legislative changes don’t change the marine park’s zoning, but they do ensure it delivers a high level of protection for the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.
Mr Garrett said the new legislation would do this through:
· recognising the World Heritage status of the Great Barrier Reef
· applying a new streamlined environmental impact assessment process
· an improved enforcement and compliance regime providing a wider range of
enforcement options tailored to the circumstances"