Prime Minister
THE HON. WARREN ENTSCH MP, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR LEICHHARDT: First of all, thank you very much indeed for being here today and taking the opportunity to travel across to this beautiful spot here on Green Island. And I welcome the Prime Minister being here again. And of course, the Environment Minister, Sussan Ley. It's been a while since we've been able to have them up here in our region. Of course, COVID has made it very, very difficult for travel, but it's fantastic that they're up here now. And what's even more important is the announcement that we've made today in relation to the $1 billion investment over an extended period of time is very important, and I want to thank the Prime Minister and Sussan for the great work they've done in that, and I invite the PM to say a few words.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you. Thank you very much. Well, this really is one of the natural wonders of the world and it has been an absolute thrill to be here, and to just take it all in and we want to see people from around the world and across Australia taking this in for generations and generations well into the future. This is our stewardship. This area has been stewarded by our indigenous population for 65,000 years, and I want to thank them for their welcome today and the opportunity to to speak with them and understand their perspective and and how they have cared for this part of the world for so long. I also thank the local tourism operators who we have been able to speak to today and hear feedback from them firsthand. It has been a really tough time for people in far north Queensland, particularly this is from a tourism point of view. This is the industry that is more reliant on international tourism than any other part of the tourism industry anywhere in the country. I know that from experience, you know, 64,000 jobs are dependent on tourism here, a $6.4 billion industry. And from that, all all of the country benefits from the important tax revenue that is raised from the success of our tourism industry here and the many other sectors here.
So why is all that true? Because of the Great Barrier Reef and the stewardship responsibilities we all have, and today we're committing that billion dollars over the next nine years. That's on top of the $2 billion we've already invested. That is caring for this reef. Whether it's science, whether it's continuing our battle with the crown of thorns starfish, improving the water quality and what this plan and package is all about is working together is the Reef plan here from the Queensland Government. And this fits totally together with that Reef plan working together with the Queensland State Government. But we are funding the works here on a ratio of two to one with the State Government, so twice as much out of the Commonwealth because we understand our special responsibility here. But it's also about working with everybody who lives with and lives off the Reef, whether it's indigenous partners, whether it's the tourism operators who so often are the eyes and ears of this Reef out there every single day seeing the subtle changes, the scientific community and the the officials here from the Great Barrier Marine Park, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, GRMPA as it's colloquially known. Everybody working together, but it's also the landholders back on the mainland. It's working with the cane farmers. It's working with everybody to ensure that we can look after this Reef. And this is a big investment. It's the investments that are needed for us to be doing as a government. What we have been doing throughout our term is a government ensuring that we're putting the Reef first, because when you do that, everybody else benefits. And that's what we're seeing as a result of this package.
I want to thank Sussan Ley as Minister for the Environment. She pulled this package together with Warren and I thank all of our many other members up and down the coast, Phil Thompson and so many others who have worked to ensure that this is the right package for far north Queensland, it is the right package for the Reef, and it's frankly it's the right package for the globe’s keen interest in the Great Barrier Reef. And we're so proud of that work and we can be proud that Australia leads the world in Reef management. We lead the way in this area and the way we manage the Great Barrier Reef together with indigenous wisdom and knowledge through to most recent contemporary science and having the best researchers in the field. This is how you look after the Reef. So Sussan, I want to congratulate you how you’ve pulled this all together and I'll invite you to unpack the package for those who are here with us today.
THE HON. SUSSAN LEY MP, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Thank you very much, Prime Minister. Can I also acknowledge the traditional owners up and down the 2,400 kilometres that is the length and breadth of the Great Barrier Reef and note their work on sea country within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and so many of our land managers up and down this coastline. Their work is essential and supported by this package. Warren, can I acknowledge you. You are the Reef champion of champions because you understand that this is about partnerships and this is about our farmers, our fishers, our scientists, our traditional owners, our communities, citizen science, even keeping plastic out of the ocean, understanding our beaches, our coastline, our waterways and working hard to protect them. This is about protection, and as you said, Prime Minister, it's $1 billion. It's a step up in terms of the rate of funding that's going out to all of these actions from the $2 billion that's already invested and it's incredibly strong. It's been developed over months and that consultation [inaudible].
More than half of this funding is about water quality, and I know that farmers up and down the Reef understand this better than anyone else. And I always say it starts on our farms. We've got 437,000 kilometres of catchment that flows into the Reef. Now this funding for water quality is about win-win. It's not about heavy handed regulation. It's about saying to our farmers, we want to partner with you. This is what works for you to keep the sediment on your farms, to keep all of the nutrients on your farms. It works for you, buy it also works for the Reef. So it's that win-win approach and that understanding that our members of parliament up and down the Reef have been able to represent to us wherever we may be.
So science today is an important day to recognise the role of marine biologists, whether they be in the Marine Park Authority or anywhere else, including the ones we met today within the tourism operations here. Because our marine biologists and scientists are looking at the world leading, innovative science that can make a difference. We've been doing this for the $150 million Reef restoration adaptation programme in partnership with Queensland universities. Some good ideas put on the table, but what this package does is step that up again, so we can look at building the resilience of the Reef with scalable options that make a difference to its environment. We know that climate change is the biggest threat to the Reef and we play our part internationally when it comes to emissions. But we also know that building a healthy and resilient Reef is absolutely the best thing we can do in the face of those pressures and to see the work that's done, to build that healthy Reef, the coral and those innovative scientific techniques that I talked about is really very exciting. There's quite a bit more in the package. But I know Warren, it's really, really important to the tourism operators here in Cairns and elsewhere. Over to you.
THE HON. WARREN ENTSCH MP, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR LEICHHARDT: Thank you. There's a number of things in the package, which I find it very exciting. First of all, this is not a just a a three year election term commitment. We're talking 10 years, so it goes from one to another to another, which allows all the stakeholders to actually plan and which is absolutely critical. Secondly, it starts to bring in all of the stakeholders, and I look at Sheradyn here from the RRRC, Gareth here, who kicked off the crown of thorns eradication problem, brought in our traditional owners who are playing a very, very significant role in doing that. Of course, Brian here, Brian Singleton is here. Thank you too. The work they've done, they've actually earned the first specific purpose built boat for a range of programs. And of course, to [inaudible] nice to see you here, my friend. And of course, the work that you're doing as as this is on land, traditional owner, you and your friends that are here as well.
The other thing that I think is important, is starting to recognise that contribution and we are doing that in the package, for example, we had COVID provided us with an opportunity to see outside the square. And this is where the $15 million package that we put through marine operators because they didn't have bums on seats going out to the Reef, what we did is say righteo, this will help you continue to operate, those vessels need to operate, you are now working with the GBRMPA, you're working with the science, working and providing value, the value of it. And so you can go on, keep the crews going. That's been recognised as an outstanding success. And so that is also incorporated in here to make sure that we continue to have that because this management of this is not just one [inaudible], it is the whole community that is part of it and the PM made reference to that. And so, you know, this is what makes this very different and very, very important. And building on a couple of billion dollars that's already invested, sounds a lot when you say it, not much when you say it quickly, but nevertheless, it is the biggest package ever that's been invested here. And of course, the main benefactor is going to be the Reef and it sustains our reputation as by far the best managers of any reef system anywhere in the world. We are the go to people for anybody who's got a Reef, this is where they come to see [inaudible]. So thank you very much indeed, Prime Minister. And to Sussan.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you Warren. Happy to take your questions.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, there's been concerns that, you know, this is a little too late and what we really need is a commitment to a net zero by 2030. What would you say to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we committed to net zero by 2050, and we reduced emissions by over 20 percent. Our government's put $2 billion already into world leading management of this Reef, and now we've put another billion in. And so I'd say to those that they need to keep up with just how much we're doing. The Reef has always been a priority for our government and it's been a priority because we know how important it is to the lives of people in far north Queensland. It's important for their livelihoods, but it's also important for their way of life and we are investing in this Reef being here for generations and generations to come. And as Warren and Susan both said, drawing on the wisdom of Indigenous Australians and their management and care for this amazing part of the world and building in the most modern of science and drawing in every operator and everyone who has a stake here in this in this Reef and make sure that it works and that it is protected.
JOURNALIST: For this money to be delivered, you need to be in government for almost another decade. How feasible is it that all of this funding is actually going to come through?
PRIME MINISTER: It's committed, it's in, it's in the budget. And certainly we will continue to fund it. If anyone had a different idea, they'd have to cut funding to do it. And I don't know why they'd want to do that. I mean, we've set out the course, we've set out the commitment, we've laid down the marker and we've set the standard. And I would expect, and certainly my government will continue to follow it and it's in the budget. And if others don't want to follow that, they better explain that to the Australian people why they won't. I mean, our opponents, the Labor Party, they actually want to get rid of the money that we gave to the Reef Foundation. $217 million extra has been brought in by industry to back in the more than $450 million we put into that into that project. And there's some 200 separate projects, over 400 different partners that have been brought into that project. They wanted to rubbish it, they wanted to criticise it. But that's what they do. Lots of criticism. No answers.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, why did it take an election for you to make this commitment to the Reef, is it about saving the Reef, or saving seats in far north Queensland?
PRIME MINISTER: We didn't. $2 billion has already been invested and now we're putting a further billion in. This programme and this project have been many, many months in the making. It draws from the Reef Management Plan up here in Queensland with the Queensland State Government, which was recently released, which we worked closely with them on. This is part of a very big and ongoing partnership. This goes out over the next decade. We've got many programmes like that, and it's very important to do that. And so we are maintaining and building on our very strong commitment and delivering for the reef and for the people of far north Queensland.
JOURNALIST: Obviously a lot of the industry here relies on the tourism, which relies on international travel. What's the plan for when that will reopen and what countries are the plan to start with?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, as you already probably know, we're fully open for Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Singapore, and a lot of those markets are very important here for far north Queensland, particularly the Japanese and Korean markets, but also I say the Kiwi market, which I know is pretty important to them as well. And Singapore. In addition to that, we've already opened the borders for students across the board. We've already opened the borders for backpackers and this is one of the most popular destinations for backpackers anywhere in the country. And that's important for far north Queensland, not just because it brings tourists to the area, it also brings staff and workers to the area and who support the industry. Almost around about a quarter at a particularly at peak times of the of the of the labour force for this period making far north Queensland work, is here because of backpackers and others. It's a lot like in our agricultural sector. And so they have been important early priorities.
Omicron has only been with us now for about eight weeks. And so we're we're moving carefully. We've taken those steps with the groups that I've mentioned and we're monitoring the impact on that. And so far, so good. We are managing within our hospital system well. There are pressures, of course there are. And those who are working on the frontline in our hospitals, we're very grateful to and those working their aged care facilities. And should that continue to be the case, then I think there is an opportunity for us to extend further with international visitors. And I would hope to see that happen in the next few months. But we don't want to put too early pressure on our hospital system just yet. And that's the issue that I'll be taking further health advice on.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, is this enough money to keep the Great Barrier Reef off the UNESCO endangered list?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'll ask the Minister to comment on that, and I want to commend Minister Ley on the fantastic job that she has done in working closely with UNESCO. You know, when people come out here and see it and see what we're doing and they see the world leadership we're displaying, not just by our scientific community, but our commercial community as well and how the Reef is being looked after under the ever watchful eye of our indigenous community here. They rarely leave unimpressed. They leave very impressed about what has been achieved here, and I think that bodes well. But I'll allow the Minister to add further.
THE HON. SUSSAN LEY MP, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Thank you, Prime Minister. Well, it certainly is the case that you can see the Reef from outer space, but not from an office in Paris. And the point I made when I visited European World Heritage ambassadors last year was come and have a look. And I've written formally as I'm required to do. A report is going to be submitted next week and we hope a reactive monitoring mission comes to the Reef and does actually inspect everything that's going on, the science, the communities, the work to restore and protect. So what we're doing is responding to the call that we've always had as a Coalition Government to protect this region, stepping up the funding from $2 billion to $3 billion in this announcement.
JOURNALIST: Minister, this money will be distributed through your department and through the Marine Park Authority. What about smaller local projects and foundations? Will they get a look in?
THE HON. SUSSAN LEY MP, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Yes, they will. Part of this money will, of course, go to community grants as it already is being managed by my department and by the foundation. We're seeing citizen science on the Reef in action up and down its coastline, so very much the community will focus in terms of grants.
JOURNALIST: Many of the groups that are part of the funding that might be going out and using this to restore the Reef are still concerned though that there hasn't been a strong enough commitment to tackling climate change. What's going to change on that front?
THE HON. SUSSAN LEY MP, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Well, the Prime Minister and the Energy Minister have outlined our commitment to climate change, but I've got to say that is not the feedback I receive from tourism operators and from communities along the Reef who depend on visitors. In fact, tourism operators, when they take people out on the Reef, often have a surprise response, which is "wow, isn't this incredible? This is truly a natural wonder. We didn't realise." So the determination of communities to showcase the Reef is all about the realities of the Reef, but it also recognises that it's really special.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, everyone.