UNESCO rejects suggestions of Australia's Great Barrier Reef being "in danger"

The World Heritage Centre has acknowledged the significant and unprecedented work undertaken by the Australia and Queensland Governments and recommended against the Great Barrier Reef being listed as "in danger".

All references to "in danger" have been dropped, and Australia and Queensland's efforts to develop and implement the recently released Reef 2050 Long term Sustainability Plan have been praised.

This includes the recent announcements of more than USD 200 million in additional funding USD 100 million from each government) which brings the projected investment by both governments to well over USD 2 billion dollars over the next decade.

The plan also includes the unprecedented ban on the disposal of capital dredge material in the entire World Heritage Area and restrictions on port development.

The Australian and Queensland Governments welcome the Great Barrier Reef draft decision for the World Heritage Committee's consideration.

The draft decision also adopts Australia's proposal that the next State of Conservation Report be provided in 2020, which will be based on the scientifically robust and independent 2019 Outlook Report

undertaken by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

The IUCN and World Heritage Centre recognise that the ordinary five yearly reporting timeframe is appropriate to assess the implementation of LTSP and Australia's considerable efforts.

Ministers Hunt, Miles and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad will represent Australia at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Bonn, Germany at the end of June where a final decision on the status of the Great Barrier Reef will be made.