Government makes ‘long-term commitment’ to protect the Great Barrier Reef

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham says the government's $1 billion pledge to save the Great Barrier Reef is part of a “long-term commitment” to the reef’s enduring health. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will announce the funding injection in Cairns today to help reduce the threat from the crown-of-thorns starfish, improve land management in the reef catchment and reduce harmful runoff. “This is about continuing the type of work we’ve been applying over the last few years,” Mr Birmingham told Sky News Australia. “We’ve already had a $2 billion program and this now takes that to a $3 billion program of ongoing work.” Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au