Climate change is the biggest threat for the Great Barrier Reef, and reefs worldwide. Other key threats include poor water quality, fishing impacts on protected and threatened species, marine debris and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.
We are taking increased action on climate change and investing in initiatives to protect and build the resilience of the Reef.
The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan guides our actions to restore and protect the Reef.
Our investments are delivered through the Reef Trust. They are focused on priority areas and informed by science.
October Budget 2022-23
The Government is investing a record $1.2 billion to protect and restore our iconic Great Barrier Reef.
For more information: 2022-23 October Budget fact sheets
Our plan
The Reef 2050 Plan is Australia’s overarching framework for protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef to 2050.
The plan has 5 priority areas for action. These actions are helping to address key threats for the Reef.
Building partnerships and fostering cooperation is at the heart of the Reef 2050 Plan. We all have a role to play.
Read more about the Reef 2050 plan.
Our investments
Together with the Queensland government, our investment in the Reef is more than $4.4 billion from 2014 to 2030. Of this, more than $3.2 billion is from the Australian Government.
We are investing $1.2 billion to 2030. This funding will accelerate actions to improve water quality, strengthen partnerships and stewardship, reduce fishing-related risks to protected and threatened species and strengthen management of the Reef.
It will support projects to help the Reef adapt to a changing climate.
Learn more about our investments.
Case Studies
We are supporting people and groups to help protect the Great Barrier Reef.
Farmers are running projects that are helping improve Reef water quality.
Scientists are investigating ways to make the Reef more resilient to climate change.
Community groups are involved in clean-up events to stop marine debris from entering the Reef.
Learn more in our case studies.
Partnerships
We work in collaboration with our partners, including the Queensland government, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
Read more about our partnerships.
Engaging First Nations people
We engage local knowledge through partnerships with First Nations people. This knowledge helps us develop appropriate, effective long-term solutions across the Reef.
Read more about our partnerships with First Nations people.
Science underpinning our investments
Our actions are driven by the best science. Our research partners include:
- CSIRO
- Australian Institute of Marine Science
- Queensland Government
- Universities.
Read more about how we work with scientists:
- National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
- Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (‘RIMReP’)
- Scientific Consensus Statement on Reef Water Quality
- Reef 2050 Independent Expert Panel
- Independent Science Panel
Laws that protect the Reef
The reef is protected by law:
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 oversees activities in the marine park
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment Act 2007
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2008
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, protects nationally significant matters including the Reef World and National Heritage areas
- Multiple-use Zoning Plan recognises the multiple uses of the Reef while using spatial zoning and rules to minimise impacts to Reef health.
These acts provide an internationally recognised world class system of environment and heritage protection. To ensure use of the Great Barrier Reef remains sustainable, activities in the World Heritage Area and marine park are tightly controlled under these laws, as well as other relevant state and federal laws.
Other legislation is also outlined in Great Barrier Reef Intergovernmental Agreement.