Most Aussies haunted by Great Barrier Reef’s future, report finds

A new study has revealed the vast majority of Australians worry about what might happen to our largest natural wonder.

The Great Barrier Reef has once again been called into focus, as environmental groups warn authorities that bold action is needed now to secure its future.

A new report commissioned by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) has found that while the reef remains one of the world’s most important ecosystems*, its survival is not certain without major investment and climate action.

The Reef contributes an estimated $9 billion annually to Australia’s economy and supports around 77,000 full-time jobs, making it roughly equal in employment to the country’s fifth-largest employer.

Tourists travel far and wide to visit Cairns and the surrounding Far North Queensland region for its natural beauty. The number of visitors has led analysts* to estimate the reef’s broader “asset value*” at a whopping $95 billion.

But economic modelling* by Deloitte Access Economics suggests that with urgent climate action and big changes in investment, the reef could unlock another $124 billion in opportunity over the next 50 years. The economists warn that without investment, the national treasure may not survive.

The study also revealed that Australians overwhelmingly back the reef’s protection regardless of their political views.

National polling commissioned by the GBRF found that 98 per cent of Australians believe losing the reef would be “a national tragedy,” with nearly three-quarters describing such a loss as “significant” or “irreplaceable”.

Nine in 10 are concerned about the risks posed by climate change, and 78 per cent say protecting the reef for future generations is very or extremely important.

“The Reef is simply too precious to lose,” said managing director Anna Marsden during the announcement.

“Together, the Deloitte findings and national polling present a powerful case: safeguarding the Reef is vital not only to the people and communities that rely on its survival, but to the overwhelming majority of Australians who want it to endure for generations.”

Australia has already been seen as taking a leading role in reef conservation innovation, the Foundation said — including efforts in assisted coral evolution, large-scale restoration, and control of the crown-of-thorns* starfish.

“These breakthroughs have delivered more progress in the past five years than in the previous fifty,” GBRF said.

Nonetheless, Marsden warns that “without a step-change* in funding from both public and private sectors, these advances won’t be enough to outpace climate threats”.

THE STATE OF THE REEF
The Great Barrier Reef is facing one of the most critical periods in its history, with scientists warning it has suffered never-before-seen stress in recent years.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science recently reported the largest annual declines in hard coral cover on record in two of the Reef’s three major regions during 2024 and 2025.

They said the losses have been driven largely by climate change, with the Reef suffering at least five mass bleaching* events since 2016 — including two back-to-back events in 2024 and 2025.

Local environmental pressures are also damaging the Reef’s ability to bounce back.

Water pollution from agricultural run-off and flood plumes* remains the most damaging local impact, reducing water quality and making coral communities more vulnerable to heat stress. Conservation groups argue that without stronger action, the combined effect of warming seas and pollution will continue to push the Reef into decline.

The World Heritage Committee has even ordered a full review of Australia’s management of the Reef.

On the local front, the Australian and Queensland Governments have put in place the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, a 35-year strategy designed to guide the Reef’s recovery.

More than A$5 billion has been committed to conservation measures between 2014 and 2030, funding a wide range of activities — from tackling crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks and improving land management to reduce run-off, to expanding marine protected areas and partnering with Traditional Owner groups in Reef stewardship*.

But the release of the GBRF report sparked fresh debate over the Queensland Government’s decision to extend the use of coal-fired power stations in its energy road map.

Cairns Senator and federal Assistant Tourism Minister Nita Green said it was disappointing the state government made the decision to extend the use of fossil fuel-producing coal beyond 2050.

“I hope that a report like this that comes out really gives them food for thought about that sort of decision and what is really at risk if we don’t take action on climate change,” she said.

But Premier David Crisafulli defended the government’s position on coal.

“I have a very different view to what that Senator says, and I’ll tell you why,” he said.

“With the exception of a couple of the extremists*, most people have looked at our energy plan and have seen a government that’s parked ideology* and is delivering a plan based on economy and practicality,” he said.

Queensland Tourism and Environment Minister Andrew Powell said the plan showed a path to net zero emissions by 2050.

“No one around the world cares more about the Great Barrier Reef than Queenslanders,” he said.

He added the Queensland government was currently focused on improving water quality flowing into the Reef and seeking feedback on a draft strategy.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• ecosystems: geographical areas where plants, animals and other organisms as well as weather patterns and other environmental factors interact in bubbles of life
• analysts: people who study the economy
• asset value: the total value of a company or organisation
• modelling: studying the most likely future economic movements of a company or industry based on current trends
• crown-of-thorns: a large spiky starfish that feeds on coral and has caused significant loss on the Great Barrier Reef
• step-change: a change in direction or strategy
• mass bleaching: when corals are under stress from environmental factors like warmer waters, too much sunlight or run-off from pollution, they can expel their symbiotic algae which causes them to turn white and makes them more vulnerable to disease and death
• flood plumes: a large body of freshwater that washes into the ocean from a river due to a flood, usually carrying sediment and fertilisers or other contaminants that can harm marine life
• stewardship: supervising or taking care of something
• extremists: people holding extreme political views
• ideology: a system of ideas and beliefs that shape how someone sees the world

EXTRA READING
Reef resilience tested amid decline
Great Barrier Reef coral in decline
Government hands in Reef report

QUICK QUIZ
1. How much money does the Great Barrier Reef contribute to Australia’s economy each year?
2. How many full-time jobs does it support?
3. What percentage of Australian believe losing the Reef would be a national tragedy?
4. How many mass bleaching events have occurred in the Reef since 2016?
5. What has been the most damaging local impact on the Reef?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Open letter to the Prime Minister
Write a letter to the Prime Minister from the point of view of a living thing, existing in the Great Barrier Reef (fish, coral etc.)

What is affecting you?

What needs to be done to help you?

What action do you want the Australian Government to take to save the Great Barrier Reef for future generations to come?

Use emotive and persuasive language to plead with the Prime Minister for action on behalf of your species.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Which tourist activities and attractions can you think of that would generate more profit into the reef to then reinvest back into conservation measures to save it?

Your activities or attractions have to complement the health of the reef, not further damage it.

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
BAB it!
Show you have read and understood the article by writing three sentences using the connectives “because’’, “and”, and “but” (BAB). Your sentences can share different facts or opinions, or the same ones but written about in different ways.