30 May 2024
Senate Estimates Confirms Labor’s Disingenuous Blame-Shifting on Reef HQ
Senate Estimates hearings have confirmed that plans to knock down and rebuild Reef HQ were only made after the election of the Albanese Labor Government.
The confirmation debunks claims by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek that the former Coalition Government’s $80M funding commitment for a refurbishment in July 2021 wasn’t enough, as that was what was requested by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) at the time.
Officials twice advised the information which led to the decision to rescope the project was received in July 2022, two months after the 2022 Federal Election.
Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson said it was time for the Albanese Labor Government to stop blame-shifting and the deliver the funding to save Reef HQ.
“The questioning we were able to put forward on behalf of the community confirms that the $80M allocated by the former Coalition Government was sufficient for the refurbishment that was scoped at the time,” Phillip Thompson said.
“When the new information was received under the Albanese Labor Government, which led to a re-scope of the project, they did not and still have not allocated an extra cent to it.
“The Minister continues to mislead the people of Townsville, and the community isn’t happy.”
The hearings also made clear that with no new funding there is absolutely no chance the aquarium can re-open.
Phil Thompson said that this outcome would be devastating for the Townsville community and is calling on the Minister to commit to funding the project in full.
“This is the world’s largest coral reef aquarium and is a place that people travel the world to visit, study and work,” he said.
“It’s time for the Minister to stop playing politics and provide the extra funding to see Reef HQ re-open to the public.”
Meanwhile Phillip Thompson’s petition to “Save Our Reef HQ” has garnered thousands of signatures, and can be signed at https://www.philthompson.com.au/reefhq/.
ENDS