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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Parks and heritage
  3. The Great Barrier Reef
  4. Managing and protecting the Great Barrier Reef
  5. Great Barrier Reef Intergovernmental Agreement

Sidebar first - EN - Great barrier reef

  • Protecting the Reef
    • Intergovernmental Agreement and Ministerial Forum
    • Science and the Great Barrier Reef
    • Case studies

Great Barrier Reef Intergovernmental Agreement

On 28 January 2022, the Australian Government announced an additional $1 billion investment to substantially increase efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

This page contains information on previous Australian Government Reef commitments and will be updated to reflect this new investment during the design and delivery of this new funding Package.

For further information on this record new investment in the health of the Reef please visit - Billion Dollar Reef Protection Package.

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.

Updated in 2015, the agreement renews the Australian and Queensland governments’ commitment to protecting the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area including its Outstanding Universal Value through actions under the joint Reef 2050 plan.

The Agreement is currently being reviewed and a revised Agreement is expected to be finalised in 2022.

  • Great Barrier Reef Intergovernmental Agreement 2015 (PDF - 771 KB) | (DOC - 605 KB)

Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum

On 23 October 2020, National Cabinet agreed to a set of reforms to streamline and rationalise former Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Ministerial Councils and Forums. The Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum has been disbanded as part of these reforms.

The Australian and Queensland governments remain committed to working together to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Communiqués and media releases

Meeting outcomes were reported in a Communiqué or Media release.

  • 19 November 2019 - Ministers endorse Reef Strategy
  • 20 July 2018 - New & improved actions to protect the Great Barrier Reef
  • 28 July 2017 - Fast forward on action to preserve the Reef
  • 25 November 2016 - World Heritage Centre update on Great Barrier Reef protection
  • 15 December 2015 - Ministerial Forum focuses on partnerships and collaboration for the Reef
  • 10 June 2015 – Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum Joint Media Release
  • 12 June 2014 – Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum Joint Media Release
  • 6 December 2013 - Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum Communiqué 6 December 2013 (PDF - 24.51 KB) | (DOCX - 33.16 KB)
  • 10 July 2013 - Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum Communiqué (PDF - 71.02 KB) | (DOC - 58.5 KB)
  • 11 December 2012 - Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum Communiqué (PDF - 64 KB) |  (Word - 38 KB)
  • 12 August 2011 - Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Council Communiqué (PDF-78KB) |  (Word-41KB)
  • 3 July 2009 - Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Council Communiqué (PDF-73KB) |  (RTF-26KB)
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Last updated: 28 January 2022

© Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.