Great Barrier Reef

The United Nations World Heritage and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature has expressed concern the Australian government is only addressing seven of twenty-three identified management issues and has warned the Reef may be placed on the  2014 �in danger� list. Dr Fanny Douvere advises that industrial projects should only be permitted if they do not impact on the reef�s value or compromise the strategic assessment process. (Arup, 2013)

There is a conflict between the Queensland government, which is attempting to fast-track lucrative industrialisation and the Federal Government. Canberra has so-far declined to approve the expansion of Port Abbott to accommodate the extra demand for coal-ships. The Deputy Premier of Queensland, Jeff Seeney accuses the Federal Minister of the Environment Mark Butler of �being held to ransom by radical greens.�  (Arup, 2013)  However there is little scientific research available into the effects of the mining and port industries on the Great Barrier Reef to adequately assess their impact upon the environment.