Prime Minister announces decision to establish an Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, Queensland (Qld)

Prime Minister John Gorton states that the institute ‘will become a centre of excellence’ and that one of its first priorities will include ‘research in the area of the Great Barrier Reef’.

According to a media report, the proposed institute is expected to launch ‘a major research programme into the problem of the destructive crown of thorns starfish on the Great Barrier Reef’.

Joint Commonwealth‑Qld enquiry into oil drilling in the GBR announced

The Australian and Qld Governments agree to conduct a joint enquiry into the possibility of oil drilling causing damage to the GBR. The Qld Government states it will not prevent the oil drilling project in Repulse Bay from going ahead. However, it is later reported that the Qld Government would agree to a suspension provided the project companies agree and the state does not incur financial liability.

Australian and Qld Government crown‑of‑thorns starfish Joint Committee members announced

The 6-member Joint Committee was agreed to on 29 January 1970 and will investigate the problem of crown‑of‑thorns starfish in the GBR. It will report to both governments and be supported by each on a dollar for dollar basis.

2 Royal Commissions (Commonwealth and Qld State) to inquire into oil drilling in the GBR announced The Commonwealth and Qld Royal Commissions will be established under the Commonwealth’s Royal Commissions Act 1902–1966 and the Qld Commissions of Inquiry Acts 1950–1954, respectively. The 2 Royal Commissions have identical terms of reference and the same Commissioners and will inquire into the risk of damage to the GBR from drilling for petroleum.

Prime Minister John Gorton states that the Royal Commissions ‘agreed terms of reference incorporate some improvements and change of a drafting nature from the agreed terms announced on 29 January’.

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) established

The Institute is established under the Australian Institute of Marine Science Act 1970. The Minister is required to appoint an Interim Council to make recommendations concerning the functions of the Institute and the constitution of its Council (responsible for governing the Institute). Regarding the Institute’s functions, the Interim Council must consider:

… the need for information and research in relation to the biological and physical aspects of marine science, with particular reference to information and research concerning the effects of exploration for, or exploitation of, oil and other minerals, and of fishing operations, on or in the vicinity of the Great Barrier Reef.

Joint Committee report on crown‑of‑thorns starfish in the GBR tabled in Parliament

The committee believes that the starfish ‘does not constitute a threat to the Great Barrier Reef as a whole’ and that any attempts to reduce their population throughout the entire Reef ‘is unwarranted at the present time’. It acknowledges that current reef ecology knowledge is inadequate to fully assess ‘present and future problems concerning the crown‑of‑thorns starfish and related matters’ and that more research is urgently needed.

The committee recommends the Australian and Qld Governments establish a joint Research Trust Fund (for an initial period of 3 years) and appoint an Advisory Committee to recommend funding allocations. The governments agree to the recommendation. They each commit $45,000 to the fund for its first year and agree to increase that amount by $10,000 in each of the second and third years.

The members of the Advisory Committee are announced on 18 August 1971.

AIMS Interim Council releases report

The report recommends that roughly $6.5 million be provided over 5 years to establish the Institute.

Australian Government commits up to $8 million to establish AIMS

Based on the proposal outlined in the AIMS Interim Council report, the Australian Government commits up to $8 million over 5 years to establish AIMS in Townsville. AIMS will initially focus on ‘matters such as studies of the Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea and the coast and adjacent waters of North Queensland’.

New AIMS Act enacted

The Australian Institute of Marine Science Act 1970 is repealed and replaced by the Australian Institute of Marine Science Act 1972. AIMS is continued in existence by the new Act, which sets out the institute’s specific functions (section 9) and powers (section 10).

Royal Commissions into petroleum drilling in the GBR present report to the Australian and Qld Governments

For convenience, the report encompasses both the Qld State and the Commonwealth’s Royal Commissions. It is over 1,000 pages long and presented in 2 volumes. The Royal Commission concludes that, among other things:

• drilling should not be permitted in a marine or national park
• before any drilling is permitted there must be co‑ordinated Australian, state and industry contingency plans.

Of the 3 Royal Commission members, 2 consider that drilling in designated areas of the Reef could be permitted provided designated buffer zones and certain safety precautions (including contingency plans) were adopted. The third Commission member, and Commission Chairman:

… considers it preferable that petroleum drilling in the GBRP [GBR Province] should be postponed, and be planned and permitted only in the light, and with the aid, of full scientific knowledge of all the effects of oil pollution direct and indirect, short and long-term, on the coral and other marine life of what was described … as the complex and delicately balanced system of the Barrier Reef.

Prime Minister announces decision to create a marine park on the GBR

The decision is attributed to ‘the urgent need to protect the reef from despoilation [sic]’. It includes a commitment to ban drilling ‘in any area of the park where it was considered harmful to the reef or to the environment as a whole’. Prime Minister Gough Whitlam acknowledges that the park should be ‘established in co‑operation with the Queensland Government’ and states that the Australian Government wants to create a GBR marine park authority, comprised of ‘members appointed jointly by the Australian and Queensland Governments’, to administer the park.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (GBRMP Act) enacted

The GBRMP Act establishes:

• the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP)
• the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) – comprising a Chairman and 2 other members
• a framework for planning and management of the marine park, including zoning plans, plans of management and a system of permissions.

Advisory Committee on research into the crown‑of‑thorns starfish disbanded

The Federal Minister for Science states that the committee ‘would be disbanded to save administrative costs, but its programs would be continued under the aegis of the Australian Institute of Marine Science’. The Minister also notes that the ‘development of the Institute's programs would be restrained to enable savings’.

The Qld Minister for Fisheries states that ‘the Queensland Government would continue its longstanding interest in research activity through its Fisheries Service’.

Prime Minister announces temporary ban on further oil drilling and exploration in the GBR

In line with the recommendations from the Royal Commissions, the Australian Government decides that:

… there should be no further exploration for petroleum in the Great Barrier Reef Region and that there should be no renewal of petroleum exploration permits in the Region until the results of both short and longer term research are known.

First GBR Intergovernmental Agreement (the ‘Emerald Agreement’) signed

Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and Qld Premier Joh Bjelke‑Petersen sign an agreement outlining the arrangements between the 2 governments for managing the GBR. They agree to:

• establish a GBR Ministerial Council (comprising 2 Commonwealth and 2 Qld Government Ministers) to represent ‘tourism, marine parks, science and environment’
• proclaim the Capricornia section as the first section of the GBRMP.

The Prime Minister and the Qld Premier confirm in a joint media release that ‘it was the policies of their respective governments to prohibit any drilling on the Reef or any drilling or mining which could damage the Reef’.

Capricornia Section of GBR is proclaimed the first part of the GBRMP

The section covers over 12,000 square kilometres. Prime Minister Fraser’s media release states:

The proclamation of this first part of the marine park is further evidence of the Commonwealth's commitment to the conservation of our environment. Over the past four years we have taken decisions that will guarantee that our children and their children have the opportunity to enjoy and experience the unique heritage of Australia.

GBR nominated for inclusion on the World Heritage List

To be included on the list as a natural World Heritage site, the GBR site must demonstrate ‘outstanding universal value’ (OUV) by satisfying one or more of the following criteria:

• be an outstanding example representing the major stages on the earth's evolutionary history
• be an outstanding example representing significant ongoing geological processes, biological evolution and man's interaction with the natural environment
• contains unique, rare or superlative natural phenomena, formations and features or areas of exceptional natural beauty
• be the habitat where populations of rare or endangered species of plants and animals still survive.

GBR added to the List of World Heritage Sites

The World Heritage Committee (WHC) made the decision during its fifth session in Sydney. In its decision, the WHC notes:

… only a small proportion of the area nominated for the World Heritage List had been proclaimed within the Great Barrier Reef Region as defined in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act, 1975, and the Committee requested the Australian Government to take steps to ensure that the whole area is proclaimed under relevant legislation as soon as possible and that the necessary environmental protection measures are taken.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ivor impacts on the GBR[19]

The cyclone crosses the coast of Cape York Peninsula. Physical damage to the Reef is recorded as far as 40 km to the north of the cyclone’s path and 10 km to the south. The impact is most severe over a 50 km section of the outer reef in the northern section.

GBR region designated as first Particularly Sensitive Sea Area

The designation by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) allows Australia to implement associated protective measures such as a compulsory pilotage regime, and ship routing and reporting systems.

Twenty Five Year Strategic Plan for the GBR World Heritage Area finalised

It is the first major regional plan to be released for the GBR. Developed via a joint decision‑making process with all levels of government, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, industry (including tourism, commercial, and recreational fishing), conservationists and scientists, the plan is intended to provide an overarching, system‑wide perspective for managing the entire GBR.

It outlines a vision for the future of the Reef and the objectives and strategies needed to achieve this vision. The 25‑year objective is:

To ensure the persistence of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area as a diverse, resilient, and productive ecological system, while retaining opportunity for a diverse range of experiences and uses consistent with Australia’s obligations under the World Heritage Convention.

New position on the GBRMPA created for a representative of indigenous communities

A range of amendments are made to the GBRMPA Act, including to provide for an additional, fourth member of the GBRMPA ‘appointed to represent the interests of the Aboriginal communities adjacent to the Marine Park’ (section 5).

State of the GBR World Heritage Workshop held

The technical workshop is intended to support the GBRMPA in producing its first report on the State of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The technical studies presented during the workshop are intended to underpin this report, and provide overviews on the Reef’s:

• climatic and oceanographic characteristics
• water quality and terrestrial inputs
• status of key plants and animal groups
• management and use issues.

Cargo ship Peacock grounds on Piper Reef

The grounding is the 30th marine shipping incident to occur in the GBR and Torres Strait since 1985 and the second time a cargo ship has run aground on Piper Reef in the same period. The ship is grounded for 8 days before being successfully refloated on 26 July.

According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) incident report, no pollution occurred as a result of the grounding. However, the incident report does not consider the harmful pollutant effects of the estimated 1 tonne of antifouling paint agent tributyltin (TBT) that is scraped from the ship’s hull and released into the Reef.[20]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Justin impacts on the GBR

The cyclone makes landfall as a category 2 system northwest of Cairns. The slow‑moving system caused heavy rain and gale to storm force winds.

First recorded major global mass coral bleaching event occurs[21]

The bleaching is the result of unusually warm sea surface temperatures during the summer. The bleaching event occurs globally and causes mass coral bleaching in the Indian Ocean and Pacific.

Aerial surveys in the GBR reveal that bleaching has occurred on 21% of the offshore and 74% of the inshore reefs surveyed.

AIMS notes that ‘most reefs recovered fully, with fewer than 5% of inshore reefs suffering high coral mortality’; however, ‘the most severely affected reefs were in the Palm Island area, where up to 70% of corals died’.

Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) releases audit report on the Australian Government’s management of the GBR

The ANAO report examines the ‘efficiency and effectiveness’ of the Australian Government’s management of the Reef as implemented by the GBRMPA. The ANAO found that the ‘complexity of the Authority’s planning hinders the development of practical and useful performance information for management and accountability purposes’.

It also found that ‘the Authority does not have adequate data to determine whether it is achieving its primary objective of protecting, conserving and allowing for reasonable use of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park’.

The ANAO makes 7 recommendations to help enhance the effectiveness of GBRMPA’s governance. The GBRMPA agrees with 6 of the recommendations and agrees ‘in broad principle’ with one.

First report on the State of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area released

The report ‘represents the first ever attempt to synthesise information on the state of the whole World Heritage Area as well as human pressures on the environment and management responses to those pressures’.

Environment Minister announces a review of existing zoning within the GBRMP

The review starts from the premise that existing zoning offers insufficient protection to the full extent of habitats and biodiversity now understood to make up the GBR. Instead, a ‘Representative Areas’ approach to protection and management is proposed.

The Representative Areas Program will identify the key habitats or ‘bioregions’ within the World Heritage Area and assess how zoning should be amended to provide sufficient protection for all habitat types.

Container ship Bunga Teratai Satu grounds on the Sudbury Reef

The 184‑metre long, 22,000‑tonne ship cuts a path through the reef, causing severe localised damage and destroying an area of approximately 1,500 m². The ship is grounded for 13 days before being successfully refloated on 14 November.

Antifoulant TBT paint is scraped from the ship’s hull and dispersed by currents and the vessel’s own propeller, causing a relatively low level of contamination of 30,000 m². The clean-up effort was carried out in 2 phases from 9 January 2001 to 27 March 2001.

Review of measures to promote ship safety and pollution prevention in the GBR announced

The review is ‘tasked with developing practical and enforceable ways to strengthen the existing regulatory regime for shipping and develop new initiatives aimed at continuously improving shipping performance in safety and environment protection in the Great Barrier Reef region’.

The review will be overseen by a steering committee comprising senior officials from the GBRMPA, AMSA, the Department of Transport and Regional Services and the Qld Government Department of Transport.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment Act 2001 receives royal assent

The Act strengthens GBR environmental protection from ship groundings, oil pollution and illegal fishing by introducing new offences that cover some of these activities and by increasing some of the penalties for these offences.

It also replaces the definition of ‘compulsory pilotage area’ within the GBRMP Act to allow the area to be defined and amended via Regulation, rather than needing to amend the Act itself. This change would allow the government to adjust the definition more quickly in response to new information or threats.

Review of Ship Safety and Pollution Prevention Measures in the Great Barrier Reef released

The review notes the ‘response to the Bunga Teratai Satu incident clearly demonstrated the weaknesses and complexities’ of the current management arrangements concerning shipping in the Reef. It recommends establishing a GBR Shipping Management Group to develop a coordinated Shipping Management Plan to:

… clarify the legal regime and responsibilities of Commonwealth and State authorities, and establish broad objectives and policy parameters for shipping to guide management of the region and regulation of the industry.

The review also recommends that the group ‘develop a study of the economic, environmental and social impact of shipping, including indigenous considerations, in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Torres Strait’.

Second recorded mass coral bleaching event occurs

Aerial surveys reveal bleaching in a higher proportion of offshore reefs (nearly 41%) and 72% of the inshore reefs counted in the census. Less than 5% of the reefs counted suffered high coral mortality, and recovery after the event is considered ‘generally good’.

First formal community participation phase of the Representative Areas Program (RAP) commence

The first phase of public consultation is undertaken on the proposal to prepare a new (single) Zoning Plan for the entire GBR, based on enhanced protection for all bioregions identified in the RAP.

The consultation runs until 7 August 2002 and results in 10,190 written submissions from the public, the largest number ever received by the GBRMPA for a management planning exercise.

Bulk coal carrier ship Doric Chariot grounds on Piper Reef

The 225‑metre long, 73,000‑tonne ship cuts through the reef, creating a grounding scar approximately 50 m long and 70 m wide and destroying over 3,500 m² of coral reef. Toxic antifoulant TBT paint is scraped from the ship’s hull and released into the environment.

The ship is grounded for 9 days before being successfully refloated on 6 August.

Clean up and remediation efforts take place from 27 October to 30 November 2002.

Minister for Environment and Heritage releases draft Zoning Plan

The draft plan proposes to increase the proportion of the GBR zoned as ‘no-take’ (known as Green Zones) from 4.5% to around 30%. It is based on ensuring representation of all 70 bioregions within these ‘no-take’ areas.

A second phase of public consultation follows, with the public invited to make submissions by 4 August 2003.

Second formal community participation phase of RAP commences

The GBRMPA’s second round of community consultation on the draft Zoning Plan includes:

• more than 360 meetings and information sessions
• the distribution of 76,000 maps
• 57,000 submission forms
• 29,000 explanatory brochures
• more than 2,100 CDs.

A total of 31,500 submissions are received across the 2 phases of public consultation, making the RAP ‘one of the largest examples of public involvement in any environmental planning process in Australia’s history’.

Reef Water Quality Protection Plan released

The plan aims to halt and reverse the decline in GBR water quality within 10 years. It outlines multiple actions and strategies to achieve this.

The plan has 2 main objectives:

• reduce the load of pollutants from diffuse sources in the water entering the Reef
• rehabilitate and conserve areas of the Reef catchment that have a role in removing waterborne pollutants.

ANAO releases follow-up report on its 1997–98 audit report on the Australian Government’s management of GBR

The report assesses the extent to which the GBRMPA implemented the recommendations made by ANAO in its earlier 1997–98 audit report. The ANAO finds that the Authority has implemented 6 of the 7 recommendations and has ‘made good progress’ towards implementing the last one.

Amalgamated GBR section proclaimed

All 33 existing sections of the GBRMP (which include the 5 main sections and 28 new coastal sections) are united to form one section, called the Amalgamated Great Barrier Reef (AGBR) section.

GBR Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 commences

Enacted under the GBRMP Act, the plan was created by the GBRMPA on 26 November 2003 and tabled in Parliament on 3 December 2003.

It provides a single, consistent zoning plan for the entire Marine Park and is the primary planning instrument for the conservation and management of the Marine Park.

The plan divides the AGBR Section into 8 zones and dictates the purposes for which each zone can be used or entered. The plan is expected to increase the total area of the park that is protected from practices such as fishing and collecting (so called ‘no-take’ or Green Zones) from 4.5% to 33.3%.

GBR Coast Marine Park and Zoning Plan commence

Enacted under the Qld Marine Parks Act 1982 (now repealed and replaced by the Marine Parks Act 2004), the new GBR Coast Marine Park amalgamated the 4 existing Qld marine parks with new areas so that the Marine Park runs the entire length of the Commonwealth GBRMP Zoning Plan from just north of Baffle Creek (near Bundaberg) to Cape York.

The Marine Parks (Great Barrier Reef Coast) Zoning Plan 2004 complements the GBRMP Zoning Plan by adopting similar zone objectives and entry and use provisions.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ingrid impacts on the GBR

The cyclone crosses far northern part of the GBR and makes landfall as a category 4 system. It is the strongest cyclone to cross this part of the GBR since 1918. It has a tightly defined core, with wind gusts of up to 250 km an hour, generating estimated wave heights of over 5 m within the GBR lagoon.

According to the results of surveys conducted post-cyclone:

The worst-affected inshore reefs were reduced to extensive rubble fields. On the worst-affected outer-shelf reefs, more than half of the surfaces of crests and outer slopes were stripped off their framework down to solid substratum, ~0.5 m below previous living coral surface.

29th session of the WHC held in Durban, South Africa

The committee notes petitions received from concerned non‑government organisations requesting that the GBR (and 3 other World Heritage properties) be listed as in danger ‘on the basis of climate change and associated impacts’.

The IUCN notes the petition’s key issues and technical background ‘seem well founded and properly referenced’. However, it also states ‘that it would be premature to accept the petitions outright’, arguing that ‘[t]here is insufficient technical data and evidence on the impacts of climate change on the properties’ and noting that climate change impacts on coral reefs globally and is not unique to the GBR.

The WHC adopts the IUCN’s draft decision, including noting that climate change is affecting many properties and ‘likely to affect many more’ and encouraging Parties to ‘seriously consider the potential impacts of climate change within their management planning’.

Minister for the Environment announces review of the GBRMP Act

The review implements the Howard Government’s 2004 election commitment ‘to improve the performance of the [GBRMPA], its office holders and its accountability frameworks’.

The review’s terms of reference are focused on:

• the role of office holders
• the functions of the GBRMPA
• accountability frameworks
• consultation mechanisms.

Localised coral bleaching event occurs

Bleaching occurs in the southern region of the GBR. Despite being confined to a smaller area, surveys reveal that the bleaching event is worse than in previous years, with up to 98% of corals bleached on some reefs, resulting in high coral mortality.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry impacts on the GBR

The cyclone makes landfall as a category 5 system close to Innisfail. It has damaging effects on reefs between Hinchinbrook and Cairns, with severe damage recorded on several inshore reefs, but less damage on offshore reefs in the cyclone’s path.

Review of the GBRMP Act released

The reviewers make 28 recommendations to strengthen the future accountability and transparency of the GBRMPA.

The first recommendation includes making the Authority’s primary objective ‘the long‑term protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef’.

GBR Climate Change Action Plan 2007–2012 released

The plan outlines ‘a way forward for the Australian Government to comprehensively act to maximise the resilience of the Reef’.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment Act 2007 enacted

The Act amends the governance, accountability and transparency requirements in the GBRMP Act. In particular, the amendments require:

• a five-yearly, peer-reviewed 'Outlook Report' to document the overall condition of the marine park to be tabled in Parliament and published
• an enhanced process to engage stakeholders in the development of zoning plans for the marine park
• zoning plans to be 'locked down' for a minimum of seven years from the date they come into force to provide stability for business, communities and biological systems.

Reef Rescue program launched

The program, to be funded from 2008 to 2013 as part of the ‘Caring for our Country’ initiative, receives $200 million in funding, to be distributed as follows:

• $146 million for water quality grants
• $12 million for the Healthy Reefs Partnerships Program
• $22 million for water quality monitoring and reporting
• $10 million for water quality research and development
• $10 million for the Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program.

Scientific consensus statement on GBR water quality released

The statement concludes that, among other things, ‘water discharged from rivers to the GBR continues to be of poor quality in many locations’ and ‘current management interventions are not effectively solving the problem’.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2008 enacted

The Act ‘put in place a modern, future‑focused regulatory framework to secure the long-term protection and ecologically sustainable management of the reef’.

Significant freshwater coral bleaching event occurs

Heavier than usual summer rainfall in the region leads to flooding and large amounts of freshwater being discharged to local inshore reefs. Localised coral bleaching occurs as a result of stress due to changes in salinity.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Hamish impacts on the GBR

The cyclone moves into the GBR lagoon as a category 5 system and tracks parallel to the coast for 500 km (or about 25% of the length of the GBR). AIMS’ surveys found that ‘reefs within 30km of the cyclone eye sustained most damage, with around half of the 500 reefs in [that] area exposed to destructive waves and suffering significance damage’.

The measured effects are variable, with reductions in coral cover ranging from 10% to 70% on some reefs.

Updated GBR Intergovernmental Agreement signed

The new agreement updates and replaces the 1979 ‘Emerald Agreement’, and includes 3 main objectives:

• provide long-term protection and conservation of the environment and biodiversity of the GBR ecosystem
• allow ecologically sustainable use of the GBR ecosystem, subject to the ‘objective of long‑term protection and conservation’
• meet Australia’s international responsibilities for the GBR World Heritage Area under the World Heritage Convention.

Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2009 released

The updated plan changes the initial goal outlined by the 2003 Plan to:

• an intermediate goal ‘to halt and reverse the decline in water quality entering the Reef by 2013’
• a long‑term goal ‘to ensure that by 2020 the quality of water entering the Reef from adjacent catchments has no detrimental impact on the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef’.

The plan also identifies 3 priority work areas and multiple specific actions and deliverables to be completed between 2009 and 2013.

GBRMPA releases first GBR Outlook Report

The report identifies the following priority issues that are reducing the resilience of the GBR:

• climate change
• continued declining water quality from catchment runoff
• loss of coastal habitats from coastal development
• impacts from fishing, illegal fishing and poaching.

Bulk coal carrier ship Shen Neng 1 grounds on Douglas Shoal

The 230-metre long ship is grounded for 10 days and causes extensive and severe physical damage to the shoal and significant TBT contamination. Over 400,000 m² of habitat is damaged and an estimated 115,000 m² of that habitat is found to be severely damaged or completely destroyed. The incident creates the largest ship grounding scar in the GBR to date and, according to GBRMPA, ‘possibly the largest reef‑related impact in the world’.

In October 2016, GBRMPA secures $35 million in an out-of-court settlement with the ship’s owners and insurers arising from a civil damages case. Surveys and planning to determine how best to restore the grounding site do not begin until 2019. Offshore remediation activities for the site were completed in September 2023, and onshore remediation activities were expected to be completed at the end of 2023.[22]

Australian Government approves gas project within the GBR World Heritage Area

The project involves a number of components, including constructing a liquefied natural gas processing plant and export facility and other supporting infrastructure on Curtis Island (which is located within the GBR World Heritage Area), as well as an underground gas transmission pipeline from the gas field to the facility on the Island.

Another freshwater coral bleaching event occurs

Higher than average summer rainfall in Qld again results in local inshore reefs being exposed to flood plumes and receiving an influx of freshwater, causing localised freshwater bleaching.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi impacts on the GBR

The cyclone crosses the coast near Mission Beach as a category 5 system. Just over 13% of the GBRMP is exposed to destructive or very destructive winds and 6% of the total reef area in the Marine Park is severely damaged. Most of the damage occurs in the region between Townsville and Cairns.

35th session of the WHC held in Paris, France

The Committee expresses ‘extreme concern’ at the approval of liquefied natural gas processing and port facilities within the region (on Curtis Island) and expresses regret that Australia did not inform it of the decision as per its Operational Guidelines.

It urges Australia to:

... undertake a comprehensive strategic assessment of the entire property, identifying planned and potential future development that could impact the [OUV] to enable the long-term plan for sustainable development that will protect the [OUV] of the property.

It also requests that Australia invite, as soon as possible, a joint World Heritage Centre and IUCN reactive monitoring mission (RM mission) to ‘consider the state of conservation of the property as a whole, and to contribute to the strategic assessment process’.

Joint comprehensive strategic assessment for the GBR World Heritage Area announced

The Australian and Qld Government Environment Ministers sign agreement to undertake a comprehensive strategic assessment of the GBR and its adjacent coastal zone in accordance with section 146 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).^[23]

The strategic assessment will include:

• a marine component – led by the GBRMPA
• a coastal zone component – led by the Qld Government.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre and IUCN undertake joint RM mission to the GBR

The RM mission’s team finds that the GBR ‘does not currently meet the requirements for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger, but risks meeting those requirements if remedial measures are not undertaken’.

The team makes 14 recommendations for the Australian Government, including that it:

• commission an independent review of the environmental concerns of developments in Gladstone Harbour and on Curtis Island
• develop and adopt ‘clearly defined and scientifically justified targets’ to improve the Reef’s state of conservation
• commission an independent review ‘of the overall institutional and legal mechanisms that provide coordinated planning, protection and management’ of the GBR.

36th session of the WHC held in Saint‑Petersburg, Russia

The Committee ‘notes with great concern’ the ‘unprecedented scale of coastal development currently being proposed within and affecting the property’ and requests that Australia:

• prohibit ‘any new port development or associated infrastructure’ (excluding developments within ‘long‑established major port areas’) if it would impact the OUV of the property
• complete a strategic assessment and provide, by its 39th session (in 2015), a long‑term plan for sustainable development
• undertake an independent review of the management arrangements for Gladstone Harbour
• provide, by 1 February 2013, an updated report on the state of conservation of the GBR and progress on implementing its requests and the RM mission recommendations.

The WHC will consider the updated report at its next session and warns that ‘in the absence of substantial progress’, it will consider inscribing the GBR on the ‘List of World Heritage in Danger’.

Terms of reference for the comprehensive strategic assessment of the GBR announced

The strategic assessment will ‘assess all matters of national environmental significance in the coastal area including world heritage values’ and:

… investigate the adequacy of existing management arrangements to protect the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area as well as the Queensland Government’s coastal management, planning and development framework.

Both the marine and coastal components of the joint strategic assessment are required to deliver a Program Report and a Strategic Assessment Report.

GBRMPA releases GBR Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan 2012–2017

The plan builds on the previous 2007 Action Plan and outlines the Australian Government’s strategy to address the threat of climate change in the Reef. It describes a plan of action to be undertaken by the government over the next 5 years.

Australian Government announces independent review of the Port of Gladstone

The review addresses the request made by the WHC at its 36th session.

In addition to examining the Port’s ‘current and future planning for development, as well as management, monitoring and reporting programs’, the reviewers will also investigate ‘environmental concerns in the area, including the environmental performance of developments and operations and the impacts of other significant threats affecting the Great Barrier Reef’.

37th session of the WHC held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The Committee welcomes Australia’s progress toward undertaking the strategic assessment, and the establishment of the independent review into the management of Gladstone Harbour.

However, it also ‘notes with concern’ the ongoing coastal development on the Reef and Australia’s limited progress in implementing its other key requests and recommendations proposed by the 2012 RM mission report.

The WHC again requests that Australia provide, by 1 February 2014, an updated report on the Reef’s state of conservation and progress towards implementing its requests and the RM mission report’s recommendations. The WHC will consider the updated report at its next session and warns that ‘in the absence of substantial progress’, it will consider inscribing the GBR on the ‘List of World Heritage in Danger’.

Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2013 released

The updated plan marks 10 years since the release of the initial 2003 plan. The Plan commits to achieving the 2020 long‑term goal and identifies new water quality and land and catchment management targets to be achieved by 2018.

The Australian and Qld Governments commit $375 million over 5 years to help achieve the goals and targets outlined in the plan.

Report on the findings of the independent review of the Port of Gladstone released

The reviewers find that the environmental management and governance within the Port to be ‘generally comprehensive’ but note that ‘the multiple layers and mechanisms in place can contribute to stakeholder confusion and mistrust’. It identifies 3 main areas for improvement:

1. the need to incorporate world heritage and other environmental protection considerations in a single, comprehensive and consultative port planning process
2. the need for assessment and consideration of cumulative impacts
3. the need for meaningful and ongoing stakeholder engagement to improve information and community confidence in environmental management and governance.

The Australian Government releases its response to the Review in August 2015 and agrees, or agrees ‘in principle’, with all of the recommendations that fall ‘within the Australian Government’s jurisdiction’.

Draft strategic assessment of the GBR World Heritage Area released for public comment

The media release announcing the consultation states ‘the Strategic Assessment will also guide the Commonwealth Government’s Reef 2050 Plan and priorities for the Reef Trust which will inject money into projects for long-term sustainability’.

Inquiry into the efforts to protect the GBR

The Senate asks the Environment and Communications References Committee to inquire into the adequacy of the Australian and Qld Governments’ ‘efforts to stop the rapid decline of the Great Barrier Reef’.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ita impacts on the GBR

The cyclone moves across the GBR lagoon as a category 5 system weakening to a category 4 system just prior to making landfall near Cape Flattery. It is the strongest cyclone to impact the GBR since cyclone Yasi 3 years earlier.

According to data collected from outer reefs by AIMS, the 3 recent ‘unusually intense cyclones [Hamish, Yasi and Ita] caused record destruction of corals and great loss of fishes over >1000 km [of the Reef]’.

Qld Government releases Qld Ports Strategy

The Strategy establishes 5 Priority Port Development Areas (PPDAs) – in Townsville, Abbot Point, Hay Point and Mackay, Gladstone, and Brisbane – where future port development will be concentrated. Outside these PPDAs, the Qld Government will prohibit (over the next 10 years) any ‘dredging for the development of new, or the expansion of existing port facilities’ within and adjoining the GBR World Heritage Area.

The Qld Government plans to introduce legislation to state parliament to enshrine the strategy’s key actions in law.

38th session of the WHC held in Doha, Qatar

The committee welcomes Australia’s progress on the strategic assessment, endorsement of the 2013 Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, release of the Scientific Consensus Statement, and intent to focus port developments to PPDAs.

However, it also ‘notes with concern’ the recent approvals for coastal developments in the region, including the dumping of 3 million cubic metres of dredged material, and that the Qld Ports Strategy provisions cannot be applied retroactively. It requests that Australia (among other things):

• completes an independent review of the institutional and management arrangements for the GBR (as was recommended by the RM mission)
• provides, by 1 February 2015, an updated report on the state of conservation of the GBR including progress towards implementing its requests and RM mission recommendations.

The WHC will consider the updated report at its next session ‘with a view to considering, in the case of confirmation of the ascertained or potential danger to its Outstanding Universal Value, the possible inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger’.

Australia Government releases Reef Trust Discussion Paper

The Australian Government commits to provide an initial $40 million investment to the Reef Trust.

The Trust was an election commitment announced as a part of the broader Reef 2050 Plan.

GBR final Strategic Assessment Programs endorsed

The GBRMPA and the Qld Government’s strategic assessment programs are endorsed by the Federal Minister for the Environment.

GBRMPA releases second GBR Outlook Report

The report finds that, since 2009, ‘continuing investment in management of the Reef has had some positive results … [however] the greatest risks have not changed’.

Independent review of institutional and legal mechanisms that provide coordinated planning, protection and management of the GBR World Heritage Area released

The reviewers find that the legislation for the protection and management of the GBR is generally comprehensive but note that ‘gaps exist in the areas of climate change and agriculture’. They note that the declining condition of the Reef ‘does not appear to be solely a consequence of gaps in the legislation or institutional management arrangements’ but rather ‘a consequence of systemic and long term pressures that are a legacy of past and current activities’.

While the WHC warns for a third consecutive year that it would consider putting the GBR World Heritage Area on the ‘In Danger’ list, the reviewers state that the Reef ‘is generally considered to be in good condition by international standards’.

Senate Committee releases report on Australian and Qld Government’s GBR management

The Senate Committee makes 29 recommendations, including that the Environment Minister consider the introduction of a cap or ban on the disposal of dredge spoil in the GBR World Heritage Area (Recommendation 2) and that the Australian Government ‘take strong action, and an international leadership role, on the issue of climate change’ (Recommendation 13).

North-East Shipping Management Plan released

The Plan, developed over 2 years, ‘outlines measures currently in place to manage safety of shipping in the sensitive marine environments of Australia’s north-east region and proposes options and action to further minimise the environmental impacts of these activities and related risks to the [OUV] and integrity of the [GBR World Heritage Area] in the years to come’.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia impacts on the GBR

The cyclone makes landfall at Shoalwater Bay as a category 5 system, impacting on inshore reefs south of Mackay. Large waves and storm surge cause significant coastal damage and erosion.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Nathan impacts on the GBR

The cyclone passes over the northern section of the GBR as a category 3 system. It is small in size and only impacts over a limited scale. However, it causes significant loss of coral cover at impacted sites, including those around Lizard Island, where one study recorded 97% coral mortality.

As the second severe cyclone to impact the northern section of the Reef in less than a year, it leaves the region in a weakened state to deal with an ongoing crown‑of‑thorns outbreak and future bleaching events.

Additional funding announced on release of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan

The plan, informed by the results of the comprehensive strategic assessment, provides the overarching strategy for managing the GBR World Heritage Area to 2050. It outlines multiple targets and objectives to address 7 overarching themes: ecosystem health; biodiversity; heritage; water quality; community benefits; economic benefits; and governance.

It also establishes 2 advisory bodies – the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) and the Reef 2050 Advisory Committee (RAC) – to provide scientific and expert advice to the Ministerial Forum, and support for the implementation and review of the Plan.

The inaugural Chair of the IEP is Professor Ian Chubb, the former Australian Chief Scientist. The inaugural Chair of RAC is the former Governor of Qld and former Australian Ambassador for the Environment, Penelope Wensley.

The Australian Government commits an additional $100 million in funding to the Reef Trust to support the implementation of the plan. Under the Plan, the Australian and Qld Governments’ investment in the GBR is expected to be more than $2 billion over 10 years.

Ban on dredge disposal implemented

The ban, implemented by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment (Capital Dredge Spoil Dumping) Regulation 2015, ‘applies to all past and future applications for capital dredge spoil’.

The media release notes the Qld Government’s commitment to also ban the practice in areas under its jurisdiction.

Updated GBR Intergovernmental Agreement signed

The new Agreement updates and replaces the 1979 Agreement. The Agreement re‑commits the Australian and Qld Governments to protecting and conserving the GBR World Heritage Area and reflects the shared vision for the future outlined in the Reef 2050 Plan.

39th session of the WHC held in Bonn, Germany

The Committee ‘notes with concern’ the 2014 Outlook Report findings that the GBR’s overall outlook was poor, including ‘that climate change, poor water quality and impacts from coastal development are major threats to the property’s health’. However, it welcomes efforts to create the Reef 2050 Plan and the commitment to establish a permanent ban on dumping of dredged material. It requests that Australia:

• ‘rigorously implement’ all the commitments made under the Reef 2050 Plan, ‘including where necessary through their inclusion in legislation’
• provide, by 1 December 2016, an update on the implementation of the Reef 2050 Plan ‘to confirm that the inception of the plan has been effective’
• provide, by 1 December 2019, a report on the overall state of conservation of the GBR, ‘including a 1‑page summary, on the state of conservation of the property demonstrating effective and sustained protection of the property’s [OUV] and effective performance in meeting the targets established under the [Reef 2050 Plan]’, to be considered at its 44th session (in 2020).

ANAO releases audit report on the GBRMPA’s regulation of permits and approvals

The ANAO identifies shortcomings in the GBRMPA’s regulatory processes and practices across a broad range of GBRMPA’s regulatory activities, ‘including its assessment of permit applications, monitoring of permit holder compliance and response to non‑compliance’. The ANAO notes that these shortcomings ‘undermine the effectiveness of the permitting system as a means of managing risks to the Marine Park’.

The ANAO makes 5 recommendations to address these shortcomings and the GBRMPA agrees to them all.

Third recorded mass coral bleaching event occurs

Record warm sea surface temperatures cause one of the worst mass bleaching events recorded on the GBR. Most surveyed reefs exhibit some degree of bleaching but at varying intensities (with bleaching observed in less than 10% of coral cover in some regions to over 90% in others).

The northern third of the Reef (north of Port Douglas) experiences the worst heat stress and, on average, over half of the bleached corals in that region are lost. Across the entire GBR, studies estimate that 30% of shallow-water coral is lost.

Australian Government commits additional $70 million to the Reef Trust

The new funding brings the total investment committed by the government to the Reef Trust to $210 million.

Costs of achieving water quality targets for the GBR estimated at $8.2 billion

Consulting company Alluvium estimates the costs out to 2025 to meet the fine sediment and dissolved inorganic nitrogen targets in the Reef 2050 Plan.

ANAO releases audit report on the design and implementation of the Reef Trust

The ANAO finds that the Department of the Environment and Energy (DEE) has been largely effective with both its design and implementation of the Reef Trust. It makes one recommendation that the department ‘should strengthen its Reef Trust Performance Monitoring and Reporting Plan to clearly indicate how the impact of the Reef Trust will be assessed’, which the Department agrees to.

Fourth recorded mass coral bleaching event occurs

Following on from the 2016 bleaching, this event marks the first back‑to‑back mass bleaching recorded on the GBR. The bleaching is most severe in the central third of the Reef.

Collectively, the 2016 and 2017 bleaching events affect two‑thirds of the GBR, with the southern region avoiding the worst of the heat stress in both years.

Independent Review of the Governance of GBRMPA announced

The Review will focus on the role and composition of the GBRMPA’s Board in supporting the Authority’s functions.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie impacts on the GBR

The cyclone makes landfall near Airlie Beach as a category 4 system. It is the first major cyclone to hit the southern region of the GBR since Hamish in 2009. The resulting waves cause damage to shallow reefs in the Whitsunday area, with some areas recording losses of up to 97% of coral cover.

41st session of the WHC held in Krakow, Poland

The Committee:

• welcomes the progress on the implementation of Reef 2050 Plan
• ‘strongly encourages’ Australia to accelerate efforts to meet the interim and long‑term targets of the Reef 2050 Plan, in particular, the water quality targets
• notes ‘with serious concern’ the 2016 and 2017 coral bleaching events in the GBR.

The WHC makes no new requests but reiterates its earlier 39th session request that Australia provide, by 1 December 2019, a report on the GBR’s overall state of conservation demonstrating the ‘effective and sustained protection’ of the Reef’s OUV and ‘effective performance’ in meeting the targets under the Reef 2050 Plan.

2017 Scientific Consensus Statement released

The impacts of land use on the GBR water quality and ecosystem condition are examined. The overarching consensus is that major GBR ecosystems continue to be in poor condition.

Final Report of the Independent Review of Governance of the GBRMPA released

The review makes 24 recommendations, including changes to improve the corporate governance arrangements of the GBRMPA, and the legislative amendments needed to implement those changes.

In its response to the review (released 30 November 2017) the Australian Government agreed, or agreed ‘in principle’ to all the recommendations.

GBRMPA releases GBR Blueprint for Resilience

The Reef Blueprint signals a change in GBRMPA’s management strategy, with the Authority now adopting an approach that involves managing the overall ‘resilience’ of the GBR in the face of multiple stressors.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment (Authority Governance and Other Matters) Act 2018 enacted

The Act implements recommendations made by the independent GBRMPA Governance Review to improve the authority’s governance arrangements.

This includes the establishment of a new statutory position of Chief Executive Officer (separate from the Chair of the Board).

Australian Government announces $443.3 million partnership with the GBR Foundation

The $443.3 million grant funding will be provided over 6 years via the government’s Reef Trust to the GBR Foundation to fund projects that ‘tackle crown‑of‑thorns starfish, reduce pollution into the Reef and mitigate the impacts of climate change’.

The grant will also be used to leverage private and philanthropic investment, with a fundraising target of $357 million.

Senate inquiry into the GBR 2050 Partnership Program

The Senate refers the ‘Great Barrier Reef 2050 Partnership Program’ 2018–19 Budget measure to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry. The committee is also tasked with inquiring into the GBR Foundation, including its proficiency and capacity ‘to deliver components of the Reef 2050 Plan’.

Updated Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan released

The revised plan is released following the mid‑term review. It adopts the approach outlined in GBRMPA’s Blueprint for Resilience and includes new actions for immediate attention between now and 2020, focusing on adapting to a changing climate.

Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan 2017–2022 released

The plan is ‘nested’ within the Reef 2050 Plan and builds on the previous plans by:

• including all sources of land-based water pollution (that is, agriculture, industry, urban and public lands)
• incorporating the human dimensions of change (that is, social, cultural, institutional and economic factors)
• creating separate targets for reducing water pollution from each catchment, to better prioritise actions.

ANAO releases first audit report on the $443.3 million GBR Foundation partnership

The ANAO examine whether the award of the $443.3 million grant ‘was informed by appropriate departmental advice and through processes that complied with the grants administration framework’.

The ANAO finds that the decision to award the grant to the GBR Foundation was informed by departmental advice, but notes that aspects of that advice had shortcomings, ‘partly as a result of non‑compliance with elements of the grants administration framework’.

Senate Committee releases inquiry report on the GBR 2050 Partnership Program

The committee, with majority membership from the Australian Greens and ALP, is critical of the government’s $443 million GBR Foundation partnership, labelling it ‘a highly irresponsible decision’. It recommends all ‘unspent Foundation Partnership funds be returned to the Commonwealth immediately’ and ‘earmarked for expenditure on projects to protect and preserve the Reef, to be expended by 30 June 2024’.

The Coalition Government Senators’ dissenting report states the Senators ‘do not support the findings of the majority committee report’ and that the view of the Coalition Government was ‘that the grant was the most effective way to make a significant and urgent investment in the Reef, while also managing the Commonwealth Budget’.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Trevor impacts on the GBR

The cyclone crosses the coast as a category 4 system south of Port McArthur. Surveys conducted by AIMS in the Princess Charlotte Bay sector of the GBR as part of their Long‑term Monitoring Program show minimal damage from the cyclone, but most of the surveyed reefs are well south of the cyclone’s track.

Special Envoy for the GBR announced

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces Warren Entsch as the Special Envoy for the GBR.

Over the next 2 years, the Special Envoy delivers 4 reports to the Minister for the Environment:

• June – December 2019
• January – June 2020
• July – December 2020
• January – June 2021.

GBRMPA releases a position statement on climate change

The Authority declares:

Climate change is the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef. Only the strongest and fastest possible actions to decrease global greenhouse gas emissions will reduce the risks and limit the impacts of climate change on the Reef. Further impacts can be minimised by limiting global temperature increase to the maximum extent possible and fast-tracking actions to build Reef resilience.

North-East Shipping Management Plan reviewed and revised

The review, conducted by Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), found ‘no substantial change to the risk profile of shipping since the 2014 plan’. To address existing and emerging risks, the review outlines new and revised actions for the plan, based on updated shipping activity information.

According to the AMSA:

The revised plan focuses on further enhancing ship and navigation safety, greater incident response capabilities, improvements to traffic management, better quality nautical charts and the implementation of marine biosecurity best practice management.

GBRMPA releases third GBR Outlook Report

The report finds:

The Great Barrier Reef is already a changed system — the effects of climate change are happening now. The Region’s current long‑term outlook is for continued deterioration: this could be altered with urgent and coordinated actions to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

…

The Reef can recover from major impacts if its broader resilience is high and it experiences adequate disturbance-free periods. However, disturbances are becoming more frequent and are undermining recovery in many places. Mitigation of threats and resilience‑based management on global and local scales remains essential to reinvigorating recovery of the system.

Fifth recorded mass coral bleaching event occurs

The event is the second-worst mass bleaching event recorded on the GBR (the worst being in 2016). For the first time, severe coral bleaching is observed across all 3 regions (northern, central and southern) of the GBR.^[24]

Severe bleaching occurs in 25% of surveyed reefs, and a further 35% of surveyed reefs have moderate levels of bleaching. However, overall coral mortality resulting from the bleaching event is low.

R&D phase of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) launched

The Australian Government commits $100 million from the $443.3 million GBR Foundation‑Reef Trust Partnership to the 10‑year program, with an additional $50 million to be provided in matching in‑kind investments by the R&D sector.

The RRAP aims to develop safe and effective new interventions for the GBR ‘before they become critically needed’. The interventions will provide a 3-point approach:

• cooling and shading the Reef to help protect it from the impacts of climate change
• assisting Reef species to adapt to the changing environment
• supporting natural restoration of damaged and degraded reefs.

Further $96 million from the GBR Foundation Partnership committed

The $96 million will be distributed as follows:

• $23 million to support the RRAP initiatives
• $39 million to improve the quality of water flowing into the Reef and deliver water quality innovation projects
• over $15 million to launch a ‘Crown‑of‑thorns Starfish Control Innovation Program’ and support control activities
• over $7 million for the ‘first phase of a Traditional Owner-led water quality program’
• over $3 million to engage the community in GBR citizen science and local action projects
• over $7 million to initiate a ‘Technology Transformation Fund’ and improve the quality and cost‑effectiveness of reef monitoring.

ANAO releases second audit report on the $443.3 million GBR Foundation partnership

The ANAO examines if the design and early delivery of the Australian Government’s partnership with the GBR Foundation has been effective. It is found to be only ‘partially effective’.

ANAO makes 7 recommendations to the GBR Foundation – 3 of which also include the DAWE – addressing ‘bank deeds, fundraising, subcontracting the delivery of reef protection projects and administration costs’. The foundation and department agree to all recommendations.

ANAO releases follow-up report on its 2015–16 audit of GBRMPA’s regulation of permits and approvals report

The follow-up audit assesses if the GBRMPA has implemented the ANAO’s recommendations to establish an ‘appropriate permissions system to manage risk and preserve the environmental, social and economic significance of the Marine Park and its World Heritage listing’.

ANAO finds that the GBRMPA’s regulation has been only ‘partially effective’ and that it has not fully implemented the ANAO’s recommendations. It makes 7 more recommendations and the GBRMPA agrees to all of them.

44th extended session of the WHC held online and in Fuzhou, China

Following media reporting of intense lobbying by the Australian Government, the WHC decides, against the recommendations of the IUCN and World Heritage Centre, to not include the GBR on the ‘In Danger’ list, but notes:

• ‘with the utmost concern and regret’ that the long‑term outlook for the Reef’s ecosystem has further deteriorated and the deterioration ‘has been more rapid and widespread than was previously evident’
• ‘with the utmost concern’ that the progress on meeting key targets of the Reef 2050 Plan ‘has been largely insufficient’ and that the water quality targets have not been met
• that ‘climate change remains the most serious threat to the property’.

The WHC requests that Australia invites a joint RM mission to ensure the updated Reef 2050 Plan addresses the threat of climate change. It also requests, by 1 February 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the GBR.

Updated Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan 2021–2025 released

The updated plan identifies 4 main threats to the GBR:

• climate change – considered the ‘most significant threat to long-term outlook’
• poor water quality – due to land‑based run‑off
• direct human use – such as unsustainable and illegal fishing and marine debris
• coastal development.

It outlines multiple goals to address these threats.

Government announces $1 billion package to protect GBR

The package will be delivered over 9 years (from 2021–22 to 2029–30) and will include:

• $579.9 million to improve water quality
• $252.9 million for reef management and conservation
• $92.7 million to research and deploy reef resilience science and adaptation strategies
• $74.4 million for strengthening partnerships and stewardship.

Joint visit to the GBR by the World Heritage Centre and IUCN RM mission

The mission’s main objective is to assess the updated Reef 2050 Plan and ensure it addresses threats to the GBR from climate change (and other factors) and ‘determines a pathway for accelerated action’.

The WHC will examine the RM mission report and recommendations at its next (45th) session, initially scheduled for June 2022 but later postponed to September 2023.

Sixth recorded mass coral bleaching event occurs

The first mass bleaching event to occur during a La Niña year (which are typically associated with cooler ocean temperatures and more cloud cover). Severe levels of bleaching occur in 43% of surveyed reefs, with the central region of the GBR impacted the most.

World Heritage Centre and IUCN release joint report of its RM mission

The mission team finds that the GBR meets the criteria for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger and recommends it be placed on the list. They note that, despite Australia’s recent ‘unparalleled science and management efforts’, the region’s OUV:

… is significantly impacted by climate change factors. The resilience of the property to recover from climate change impacts is substantially compromised, in particular – but not exclusively – due to degraded water quality.

Special Envoy for the GBR announced

Following the change of Government, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces Senator Nita Green as the Special Envoy for the GBR.

Government announces an additional $204 million funding for the GBR

The funding committed to in the October 2022–23 Budget includes:

• $96.9 million over 4 years to measures that support implementation of the Reef 2050 Plan
• $91.8 million over 5 years for ‘shovel ready’ projects that accelerate reef protection and restoration activities, including gully and streambank restoration.

The money is in addition to the $1 billion package of measures announced by the previous government in January 2022.

Reef Trust Special Account extended for 10 years

The instrument commences on 8 March 2023.

Australian and Qld Governments commit to making the GBR ‘gillnet free by mid‑2027’

Over $160 million is committed to ‘significantly reduce net fishing and other high risk fishing activities impacting the Reef’. Among other things, the funding will also be used to create ‘net‑free zones’ in the northern GBR region and parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The decision is welcomed by UNESCO.

The Australian Government also requests the Qld Government declare endangered hammerhead sharks a no-take species for commercial fisheries within state waters. In Qld, hammerhead sharks (great and scalloped) are already classified as a no‑take species for recreational fishers.

Qld Government announces Chair of Future Fishing Taskforce

The Taskforce will develop industry assistance packages for those impacted by the phasing out of gillnet fishing in the GBR (as well as the Great Sandy Marine Park rezoning).

UNESCO recommends that the WHC re‑evaluate if the GBR should be listed as ‘in danger’

UNESCO’s draft decisions do not include the RM mission recommendation to place the GBR on the List of World Heritage in Danger, citing Australia’s progress since the mission, including ‘the range of new, but still recent commitments that have been made and actions initiated’. However, it also notes that the GBR still ‘remains under serious threat and urgent and sustained action to implement the priority recommendations of the mission is essential in order to improve the long‑term resilience of the property’.

The draft decision proposes that Australia submit a progress report on its commitments for examination by the WHC at its 46th session in 2024, ‘including the possible inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger’. The WHC will consider the draft decisions at its next session scheduled for 10–25 September 2023.

45th extended session of the WHC held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The WHC adopts UNESCO’s draft decision including noting ‘with serious concern’, Australia’s slow progress in achieving the GBR water quality targets and requesting Australia submit a progress report on the implementation of its recent commitments by 1 February 2024, for examination by the committee at its 46th session.

New Special Envoy for the GRB delivers first report to the Minister The report, tabled in parliament on 17 October 2023, identifies 4 priorities:

• Ensuring that threats to the Reef, including climate change and water quality, are identified and appropriately managed;
• Strengthening the role of First Nations people in caring for our land and sea country;
• Working with the tourism sector to encourage visitation to the Reef; and
• Improving Australia’s international reputation as custodians of the Reef as a World Heritage Listed site.

Qld Government announces support for fishers affected by the phase-out of gillnets

The Qld Government accepts all recommendations of the Future Fishing Taskforce and announces a joint funding package of measures with the Australian Government totalling $185 million.

The Qld Government will provide $125 million of the funding ‘to implement the phasing out of gillnets on the Great Barrier Reef, rezoning the Great Sandy Marine Park, and increasing protection from gillnet impacts in the Gulf of Carpentaria’.

The remaining $60 million in funding from the Australian Government will be used for additional programs to implement independent data validation and further reduce by-catch in high-risk fisheries.

Government announces an additional $50 million to improve GBR water quality

The additional funding brings the total amount committed to the Albanese Government’s ‘Landscape Repair Program’ to $200 million.

GBRMPA releases GBR Blueprint for Climate Resilience and Adaptation

The Reef Blueprint 2030 is a strategic roadmap to strengthen reef resilience and contains 5 strategic goals for the Authority to adapt its management in the face of climate change.

Australian Government submits GBR Progress Report to the WHC

The report, provided in response to the WHC request made during its 45th extended session, sets out the progress made on actions committed to by the government in May 2023.

New Chair of the Reef 2050 Independent Expert Panel (IEP) appointed

Professor Margaret Sheil takes over from Professor Ian Chubb, who had chaired the IEP since its establishment in 2015.

Seventh recorded mass bleaching event underway

The GBRMPA declares that aerial surveys have confirmed a widespread coral bleaching event is unfolding across the Reef:

This unfolding coral bleaching event follows similar reports from reefs around the world during the past 12 months. Reefs in the Northern Hemisphere have suffered coral bleaching as a result of climate change which has driven elevated sea surface temperatures, amplified by El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean.