Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Burke is concerned at the suggestion that the reef should be considered for listing on the in-danger list in 2014, as the Gillard government has already made firm and demonstrable commitments to implementing the committee's previous decisions and the recommendations of the UNESCO monitoring mission. Key amongst these commitments is the announcement by the Prime Minister on 24 April of this year that the Reef Rescue program will be extended and expanded and that the Gillard government provide a further $200 million to the program over the next five years. The World Heritage Committee has previously recognised that Australia's management of the Great Barrier Reef is considered to be best practice in many respects. Minister Burke will therefore ensure that the committee fully understands— (Time expired)