THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

SENATOR NITA GREEN
SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

MEDIA RELEASE

Friday 14 March 2025

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Dutton risks 64,000 Queensland jobs

Our precious Great Barrier Reef and the 64,000 jobs it supports are all at risk if Peter Dutton is elected.

We know the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef is climate change. Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan would destroy Australia's climate commitments by adding over 2 billion tonnes of emissions to the atmosphere.

Mr Dutton’s risky and expensive nuclear fantasy would also require massive amounts of water to cool reactors, and when that hot water is released back into the environment, experts say it will destroy marine ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef.

On top of their reckless nuclear plan, Peter Dutton’s promise to cut thousands of jobs across Queensland will put crucial marine jobs at risk, including staff that undertake important work like culling coral eating Crown-of-thorns Starfish and vital marine science.

The Albanese Labor Government has delivered a record $1.2 billion investment in protecting and restoring the Great Barrier Reef – an Australian icon that supports 64,000 jobs and contributes $6.4 billion annually to the economy.

Only Labor will always stand up for our Reef, our environment, and the communities that depend on it.

Labor has:

• Protected more ocean than other country on Earth.
• Kept the Reef off UNESCO’s World Heritage ‘in danger’ list.
• Legislated to reach net zero, with a 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 and committed to reaching 82 per cent renewable energy supply by 2030.
• Invested a record $1.2 billion in protecting and restoring the Great Barrier Reef
• Invested over $540 million to improve water quality, for projects like revegetation and fixing storm water drains.
• Doubled funding for the Australian Institute of Marine Science, saving 100 jobs, creating another 100 jobs, and strengthening marine research in Townsville.
• Cancelled Clive Palmer’s coal mine that could have had direct impacts on the Reef.
• Employed more Indigenous rangers to manage sea country, including combatting crown of thorns starfish outbreaks, marine plastics and ghost nets.
• Reduced the impacts of bycatch from fishing - working with the Queensland Government to protect species, like dugongs, turtles and scalloped hammerhead sharks
• Rescued ReefHQ in Townsville after the Liberals and Nationals left it to rot.

Labor has taken real action to protect the Reef – Dutton and the Coalition will roll it all back.

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

“Under Labor, Australia protects more ocean than any country on Earth but when the Liberals were last in government they cut marine parks.

“Under Labor, the Great Barrier Reef was saved from UNESCO’s in danger list after it was risked by the Liberals.

“Labor doubled funding for marine science after the Liberals let labs close and threatened jobs in regional Queensland.

“Labor has approved enough renewable energy to power nearly every single Australian home, the Liberals want to force a $600 billion nuclear fantasy on Australians.

“The choice couldn’t be clearer. If you want the Reef to survive and thrive for our kids and grandkids, and to protect 64,000 jobs in Queensland, you have to vote Labor.”

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

“Labor will always stand up for the Reef and the tens of thousands of jobs it supports.

“Whether you are a cafe worker in Cairns, a tour guide in Airlie Beach, a scientist in Gladstone or Indigenous ranger in Bundaberg, protecting the reef mean protecting Queenslanders because protecting the reef means protecting Queensland jobs.”

ENDS