House debates

Monday, 13 August 2018

Questions without Notice

Great Barrier Reef Foundation

3:05 pm

Photo of Josh FrydenbergJosh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

That from a member who gave them $12.5 million himself! And in a press release from the member for Watson in 2012, this is what he said about the foundation: 'It protects and preserves the reef. It will ensure that the reef's unique values are protected.' They were the words from the member for Watson. And when we announced our half a billion dollars for the reef, what do you think the member for Sydney said? She's always good for a quote. She said she welcomed the additional funding. When it comes to the amount of money that the foundation has raised, we do know that it is Australia's largest reef charity, and we do know that Anna Marsden said to 7.30 in her interview:

I can absolutely confirm that we have raised over $90 million. These are audited figures.

Her website says:

We are the lead fundraisers for the GBR & over 18 years have raised over $90m…

When it comes to the breakdown of their funding, we know that about two-thirds has come from private and philanthropic sources. We also know that the state government of Queensland has contributed quite significantly. So the fact is the foundation has raised tens of millions of dollars from the private sector and from the philanthropic sector and has had money from both the federal government when Labor was in power, from the federal government when we're in power and from the state Labor government.

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