QLD calls for green funds
Queensland has asked for $500 million in federal funding to help the Great Barrier Reef.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison with a list of requests, asking for the Commonwealth to match funding for renewable energy jobs and water quality projects.
The letter comes ahead of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee's vote on whether to list the reef as “in danger”.
She wants Mr Morrison to match Queensland’s $2 billion commitment to create a Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund, and to match funding for projects under the Queensland government's $500 million Land Restoration Fund, which includes water quality improvement programs.
Queensland has also called for the reinstatement of the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum to oversee the progress of the Reef 2050 Plan. The ministerial forum was abolished when National Cabinet agreed to overhaul former COAG councils and forums.
Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley will soon meet with UNESCO delegates ahead of a World Heritage Committee session, which begins on Friday.
She joins the global authorities after recently describing their recommendations on the Reef as a “blindside” and a “backflip”.