Answer:
The Great Barrier Reef Intergovernmental Agreement, signed by the Prime Minister and Queensland Premier, provides a framework for the Australian and Queensland governments to work together to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
The Agreement recognises that key pressures on the Reef—such as climate change impacts, catchment water quality and coastal development—cannot be effectively addressed by either government on their own.
The Agreement has been in place between successive governments for over 40 years, beginning with the Emerald Agreement in 1979. It was updated in 2009 to provide a contemporary framework for cooperation between the governments, recognising challenges such as climate change and catchment water quality that were not foreseen at the time of the 1979 Agreement. An assessment of the implementation of the Agreement is undertaken every five years.
The Agreement was updated in 2015 to reflect the shared vision for the future outlined in the Reef 2050 Plan, and renews the Australian and Queensland governments’ commitment to protecting the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area including its Outstanding Universal Value.
The Agreement is currently being reviewed and a revised Agreement is expected to be finalised by mid-2021.
