Australia promises £275m to protect Great Barrier Reef

AUSTRALIA yesterday pledged a major cash injection to restore and protect the Great Barrier Reef in what it said would be a game-changer for the threatened natural wonder.

Malcolm Turnbull, the country’s prime minister, said more than A $500million (£275million) will go towards improving water quality, tackling predators and expanding restoration efforts.

The World Heritage-listed site, which attracts millions of tourists, is reeling from significant bouts of coral bleaching due to warming sea temperatures linked to climate change.

The reef is also under threat from the coral-eating crown of thorns starfish, which has proliferated due to pollution and agricultural run-off.

Mr Turnbull said it was the “largest ever single investment – to protect the reef, secure its viability and the 64,000 jobs that rely on the reef ”.

“We want to ensure the reef ’s future for the benefit of all Australians, particularly those whose livelihood depends on the reef,” he added.

The reef is a critical national asset, contributing A $6.4billion a year to the Australian economy.

Canberra has previously committed more than A$2 billion to protect the site over the next decade, but has been criticised for backing a huge coal project by Indian mining giant Adani nearby.

With its heavy use of coal-fired power and relatively small population, Australia is considered one of the world’s worst per-capita greenhouse gas polluters.

Canberra insists it is taking strong action to address the global threat of climate change, having set an ambitious target to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030.

Mr Turnbull said part of the money will be used to mitigate the impacts of climate change, but gave no details.