Australia Dumps $10 Million PR Campaign For GBR; Farcical Promises, No Mention Of Warming, Bleaching
The Morrison government has abandoned plans for a $10 million campaign promoting the Great Barrier Reef's promising future, after a public backlash over its failure to address climate change and protect the natural wonder.
An eminent reef scientist has also slammed as "not scientifically credible" claims by a charity gifted $444 million for reef conservation efforts that it will "climate-proof" the tourism icon. Fairfax Media has learned the government has scrapped the $10 million reef communication campaign outlined in this year's federal budget.
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A source familiar with the proposed campaign said the government recognised it "would be highly controversial and most likely counterproductive, and decided to pull the funding". The government has been heavily criticised after announcing in April it would gift $444 million to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to implement conservation programs including water quality improvements and making the reef more resilient to climate change. The foundation did not ask for the funds, and expert government agencies were not given the opportunity to apply. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who was then treasurer, has taken responsibility for the decision which is now being examined by a Senate inquiry.
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The Great Barrier Reef Foundation is supported by corporations including those from the polluting fossil fuel industry. It does not lobby for emissions reduction, despite recognising that climate change is the biggest threat facing the reef. Earlier this month, the foundation's managing director Anna Marsden said its activities would "essentially ensure we can climate-proof our coral reefs". Internationally renowned reef expert Terry Hughes scoffed at the suggestion, telling Fairfax Media it was "not scientifically credible". "The only way to deal with global warming is to tackle global warming. It isn't possible to climate-proof the reef," he said, adding that further significant damage was inevitable. "Nothing in the $444 million allocation will do anything about reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
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https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/government-ditches-10m-promotion-blitz-amid-great-barrier-reef-furore-20181020-p50av5.html