Two-thirds of Australians think reef crisis is 'national emergency' – poll

A scientist assesses coral on the Great Barrier
 Reef. Australians support strong measures to
 protect it, a poll shows.

More than two-thirds of Australians think the condition of the Great Barrier Reef should be declared a “national emergency” and support much stronger measures to protect it than are now being considered.

On Thursday the government released its report on the reef to Unesco, which was a condition of the reef being excluded from the UN body’s “world heritage in-danger” list. The government reported slow progress on the key issue of water quality and the failure of a major plank in the plan – slowing tree clearing in Queensland.

An Essential Research poll of more than 1,000 people found 68% of people agreed that the reef should be declared a “national emergency”.

Read Michael Slezak’s story in The Guardian - “Two-thirds of Australians think reef crisis is 'national emergency' – poll.”