Background and context:

The Great Barrier Reef is an iconic Australian natural feature, World Heritage Site, unique ecosystem, and significant source of jobs in tourism and fisheries. In 2015, the government released the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, yet little action has been taken since ratification of the document. In 2024, ocean temperatures reached 400 year highs, risking permanent damage to the reef as a result of climate change. Emissions must be curbed immediately to prevent catastrophic loss to the coral reefs and the biodiverse lifeforms that depend on it. 

Background/Context

• Climate change is directly impacting sea and air temperatures, ocean acidification, extreme weather events and changing currents.
• Oceans are important carbon dioxide sinks, having absorbed 39% of all human emissions since the mid-eighteenth century.
• Coral creates the basis for many other species on the reef. It also acts as a barrier protecting shorelines from dangerous storms and waves.
• Rising sea temperatures cause coral bleaching and heat stress which jeopardise both the coral’s survival and ocean biodiversity. Coral is highly sensitive to incremental changes in ocean temperature and prolonged periods of higher water temperatures causes coral mortality. 
• The Great Barrier Reef has experienced 5 mass bleaching events in 8 years, with the summer of 2023/24 being the most extensive on record
• Because the reef is so sensitive to changes in ocean temperature, the most important thing we can do to protect the reef is to act on climate change. 
• An improved federal EPBC Act is also critical to help protect the reef. You can read our issue briefing on this topic here. 

Why is it important?

• The Great Barrier Reef is one of the largest and most biodiverse regions on Earth. An enormous array of organisms depends on healthy coral for food and habitat. 
• Coral reefs are immensely sensitive to incremental changes in water temperature, making them especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. 
• To provide the reef with a greater chance at recovering from future bleaching events, efforts have been made to improve water quality and minimise chemicals and fertilisers from entering the reef’s water. We must push for stronger policies now, to prevent catastrophic damage to our reef.

Who to contact:

• Your local Federal MPs (check on this website if you’re unsure who that is)
• Key Federal Ministers (addresses in link) including: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; Environment Minister Murray Watt; Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen; Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell
• Federal Senate Crossbenchers (addresses in link) including the Greens, Independents David Pocock and Tammy Tyrell, and Jacquie Lambie (JLN), who hold the balance of power in the Senate.
• Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell

Further Reading

• The Great Barrier Reef and Climate Change
• Great Barrier Reef Foundation - Climate Change
• Coral Bleaching and Reef Health

Actions:

1. Email your MP or relevant Ministers

If you need some help getting started with your email, here is an example. 

Please don’t copy it exactly - personalise it and tailor it to the MP you are writing to. 

In addition, when writing to a Minister or Shadow Minister, start by saying that you’re writing to them in their role as Minister for xxxx, otherwise they will probably just forward your email to your local MP.

[MP name]

[Member for …. or  Minister for ….]

Dear …

[personal first sentence - who you are, why you care] 

I am extremely concerned about the direct effects climate change is causing to the Great Barrier Reef and the coral within it. The reef is home to an enormous array of biodiversity that relies on healthy coral for habitat, food and survival. As oceans warm, corals are increasingly experiencing bleaching, which jeopardises its survival. 

The Great Barrier Reef has experienced 5 mass bleaching events in 8 years and as climate change worsens, so will the bleaching events. 

To ensure the survival of the Great Barrier Reef, we need stronger policies to protect the area from pollution and move away from fossil fuels. We need to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050, or the reef will suffer greatly as a consequence. 

Will you pause all fossil fuel projects until the new Environment Act is legislated, to protect the Great Barrier Reef?

Will you fulfil your campaign promise and urgently pass the new Environment Act?

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely

Name

Address

Phone 

(Note: your contact details are required if you want a reply)

2. Call your MP

Here is a suggested script to get you started:

3. Visit your MP

Nothing beats a face-to-face conversation. Email your MP’s electorate office to ask for a meeting and follow up with a phone call a few days later. Get help on how to do this under the Democracy and Governance heading on our Climate briefings webpage.

Warming oceans impact marine life