Great Barrier Reef under environmental and commercial pressure

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is subject to various pressures, both environmental and commercial.

It was images such as this which
 greeted delegates to the recent
G20 Summit n Brisbane.

Human induced climate change threatens the reef’s survival, a situation worsened by Australia’s mismanagement of its commercial use, primarily the dumping of dredging material and the establishment nearby of a major coal port and so the movement through the reef of huge coal-bearing ships.

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, has used the platform of the UN Security Council, of which she is the president, to question comments from US President Barack Obama about the importance of protecting the reef for his daughters and grand-children.

And no her comments that the reef was not at risk have been dismissed by scientists who have said that if nothing changes it will be “slaughtered”.

Their comment come in a Melbourne Age story headed: “Great Barrier Reef will be 'slaughtered': scientists dismiss Julie Bishop's claim reef not at risk”.

When in Opposition, the present Australian Coalition Government was quite negative about seeking a position on the Security Council and Bishop herself said at the time: "There really has been no justification for the benefit that will accrue to Australia by pursuing a seat at this time."

The story headed: “The irony behind Julie Bishop's success at the United Nations Security Council” points out clearly how the Coalition Government has benefitted from the role.