Danger, Reef Ahead!

On 3 September 2009 Mr Glenn Winsen wrote the Minister for the Environment, Heritage, Water and the Arts, the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP concerning water quality and fishing on the Great Barrier Reef. On 13 October he received a reply from Mr. Stephen Oxley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Marine Division, saying he had been asked to respond.

As Mr. Oxley nicely encapsulates and regurgitates the current state of eco-delusions about the GBR, I have taken the opportunity to comment on various of his claims. Quotes in italics are from Mr. Oxley’s letter. My comments follow in plain text.

“...catchment water quality, coastal development and fishing were all identified as priority issues.”

While true in many places elsewhere, such impacts are impossible to find over most of the GBR and where detectable are of uncertain, minor or temporary nature. They are a political priority only. No significant degradation of the GBR is occurring and the vast majority of the reef remains in pristine natural condition. The purported threats are all hypotheticals which “might”, “could” or “may” happen but don’t actually exist.