Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, Great Barrier Reef: funding announced, audit findings and outlook
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
- Government and regulators Sussan Ley, Environment Minister (2019): Called the reef "the best managed reef in the world". Associated Press (via WJLA)
- Government and regulators Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (2019 and 2024, as reported): The overall outlook for the Reef is very poor. Australian Marine Conservation Society
- Communities and civil society Australian Marine Conservation Society (2024): The water quality targets will be missed and pushed back again. Australian Marine Conservation Society
The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan for the Great Barrier Reef was backed in January 2022 by an announcement of A$1 billion over nine years that would lift federal Reef 2050 investment to more than A$3 billion. Press reports of the Reef Outlook Report 2024 give an overall outlook of "very poor"; the Australian National Audit Office found shortcomings in the advice behind the A$443.3 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation in 2019.
The Conversation, 27 January 2022: the Prime Minister announced A$1 billion over nine years that would lift federal Reef 2050 Plan investment to more than $3 billion. The figure is a pledged cumulative total as announced; no source reviewed states total spending.
Status As of May 2026: funding for the plan continues in the federal budget; the Outlook Report 2024 gave an overall outlook of very poor; total spending is not on record.
- Great Barrier Reef Foundation — Received a A$443.3 million federal grant without a tender, according to the ANAO as reported The Guardian (via Yahoo News Canada)
What happened
On 27 January 2022 Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced A$1 billion over nine years for the Great Barrier Reef, which The Conversation reported would lift federal Reef 2050 Plan investment to more than A$3 billion. The package was divided into water quality (A$579.9 million), reef management and conservation (A$252.9 million), reef resilience research (A$92.7 million) and traditional owner and community-led projects (A$74.4 million). Morrison said the funding would "support scientists, farmers and traditional owners". At the time the World Heritage Committee was considering listing the reef "in danger" over climate change. In May 2026 Newsport reported that the federal budget included A$86.8 million over two years for reef restoration and implementing the Reef 2050 Long-term Sustainability Plan, about A$35 million over two years for the Marine Park Authority and about A$57 million over two years for protecting and restoring the Great Barrier Reef.
The federal government granted A$443.3 million to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The Guardian reported on 16 January 2019 that the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) found "insufficient scrutiny" of several aspects of the proposal, including the Foundation's past fundraising performance; that the department had "just 11 business days" to find a private partner and judged the Foundation the "obvious" choice after three days; that total administration costs "could be $86.41m"; and that no competitive tender was held. The ANAO made six recommendations. The Environment Minister, Melissa Price, said "None of the findings or recommendations affect the conclusion" that the partnership is effective; Labor's Tony Burke called the findings "damning". In May 2021 the Foundation said it agreed to, and had commenced implementing, all seven recommendations of a later ANAO report on the partnership, reported more than 200 projects underway and said 65 percent of the partnership funds, "$275 million", would be spent or under contract by mid-2021. The ANAO reports themselves were not opened; these accounts come from press and the Foundation.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) publishes the Outlook Report every five years. In August 2019 its chair, Ian Poiner, said "The overall outlook for the Great Barrier Reef is very poor"; Environment Minister Sussan Ley said she was not surprised and called the reef "the best managed reef in the world" (Associated Press). The Australian Marine Conservation Society reported on 25 August 2024 that the 2024 Outlook Report, covering January 2019 to December 2023, again gave an overall outlook of "very poor", the lowest rating; Poiner wrote that "Even with the recent management initiatives to reduce threats and improve resilience, the overall future outlook for the Great Barrier Reef is very poor." The report rated many protective actions as "mostly effective", climate change actions as "ineffective" and actions on water quality and fishing as "partially effective", and seagrass and coral cover improved. The Outlook Report pages themselves were not opened.
On water quality, the Australian Marine Conservation Society wrote on 30 May 2024, citing the Reef Water Quality Report Card, that fine sediment had been cut 16% against a target of 25% by 2025, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen cut 28.4% against a target of 60% by 2025 (2009 baseline). The society said it was "clear the water quality targets will be pushed back again, the third time since their inception". The report card itself and the government's account of progress were not opened.
- 2019ANAO audit of the A$443.3 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation reported (16 January); Outlook Report 2019 gives an overall outlook of very poor (30 August, press)
- 2021Foundation agrees to all seven recommendations of the ANAO report on the Reef Trust Partnership (5 May)
- 2022A$1 billion over nine years announced, lifting federal Reef 2050 investment to more than A$3 billion (27 January)
- 2024Reef water quality report card figures cited (30 May); Outlook Report 2024 gives an overall future outlook of very poor (reported 25 August)
- 2026Federal budget includes A$86.8 million over two years for restoration and implementing the Reef 2050 Plan (reported 21 May)
What was said
“support scientists, farmers and traditional owners”
“None of the findings or recommendations affect the conclusion”
“the best managed reef in the world”
“Even with the recent management initiatives to reduce threats and improve resilience,”
“the overall future outlook for the Great Barrier Reef is very poor.”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Insufficient scrutiny of several aspects of the proposal; guidelines lacked clear criteria; no competitive tender.
The Guardian (via Yahoo News Canada)None of the findings or recommendations affect the conclusion that the partnership is effective.
The Guardian (via Yahoo News Canada)Called the findings "damning" and said Labor would demand the return of remaining funds if elected.
The Guardian (via Yahoo News Canada)Called the reef "the best managed reef in the world".
Associated Press (via WJLA)The overall outlook for the Reef is very poor.
Australian Marine Conservation SocietyThe water quality targets will be missed and pushed back again.
Australian Marine Conservation SocietyHow it looked
Shown
- The A$1 billion package presented as protecting the reef and supporting tourism and hospitality operators and Queensland communities, lifting federal Reef 2050 investment to more than A$3 billion.Prime Minister Scott Morrison, as reported by The Conversation · The Conversation
- The reef described as "the best managed reef in the world".Environment Minister Sussan Ley, as reported by Associated Press · Associated Press (via WJLA)
Recorded
- The ANAO found insufficient scrutiny of several aspects of the A$443.3 million grant proposal, no competitive tender and administration costs that could be A$86.41 million (as reported by the Guardian).
- Outlook Report 2019 and 2024: overall outlook very poor, the lowest rating; the 2024 report rated climate change actions ineffective and water quality actions partially effective (press and NGO reports).
- Water quality report card as cited by AMCS (2024): fine sediment cut 16% against a 25% target for 2025; dissolved inorganic nitrogen cut 28.4% against a 60% target for 2025.
- No source reviewed states total spending against the more than A$3 billion federal figure.
In nature's name
Promised
- “support scientists, farmers and traditional owners” — Scott Morrison, then Prime Minister, on the A$1 billion package (27 January 2022) The Conversation
Money moved in nature's name
| What | Kind | Amount | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Reef 2050 Plan investment after the January 2022 package Australian government The Conversation | Pledged | 3bn AUD estimate | as announced January 2022 |
| New federal funding package for the Great Barrier Reef Australian government The Conversation | Pledged | 1bn AUD | nine years from 2022 |
| Grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation Australian government The Guardian (via Yahoo News Canada) | Pledged | 443m AUD | grant reported on 16 January 2019 |
| Federal budget funding for restoration and implementing the Reef 2050 Plan Australian government Newsport | Budget | 87m AUD | 2026 budget, two years |
What was measured
No source reviewed measures the reef's condition against the plan's own aims or attributes outcomes to the plan. The Outlook Reports of 2019 and 2024, as reported, rate the overall outlook very poor, with seagrass and coral cover improved in 2024; the report card figures cited by the Australian Marine Conservation Society (fine sediment cut 16% against a 25% target for 2025; dissolved inorganic nitrogen cut 28.4% against 60%) fall short of those targets, and the sources reviewed do not state how those targets relate to the plan. The sources reviewed are press, NGO and Foundation pages; the report card and Outlook Report pages were not opened.
Operation Ongoing · Funding for the plan continues in the 2026 federal budget. Newsport
Findings on record
- Official audit Australian National Audit Office (as reported by the Guardian) (2019-01-16) · Audit of the award of the A$443.3 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation: “insufficient scrutiny” The Guardian (via Yahoo News Canada)
- Official audit Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Outlook Report 2019 (as reported by Associated Press) (2019-08-30) · Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2019: “The overall outlook for the Great Barrier Reef is very poor.” Associated Press (via WJLA)
- Official audit Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Outlook Report 2024 (as quoted by the Australian Marine Conservation Society) (2024-08) · Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2024: “the overall future outlook for the Great Barrier Reef is very poor.” Australian Marine Conservation Society
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- Australian government (16 January 2019; 27 January 2022): Prime Minister Morrison said the A$1 billion package would support scientists, farmers and traditional owners; Environment Minister Price said in 2019 that none of the ANAO findings or recommendations affect the conclusion that the Foundation partnership is effective. · The Guardian (via Yahoo News Canada)
- Great Barrier Reef Foundation (5 May 2021): Said it agreed to, and had commenced the implementation of, all seven recommendations in the ANAO report on the Reef Trust Partnership and that more than 200 projects were underway. · Great Barrier Reef Foundation
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (August 2024): Its chair said that even with recent management initiatives the overall future outlook for the Great Barrier Reef is very poor (as quoted by the Australian Marine Conservation Society). · Australian Marine Conservation Society
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
- Disputed How well the reef is managed
Accounts
- Disputed Whether the Foundation grant was properly assessed
Record
- Unclear None on record: total spending against the more than A$3 billion federal figure in the sources reviewed.
- Unclear Unclear: the scope of the "more than $3 billion" figure. The Conversation reports it as federal Reef 2050 Plan investment after the January 2022 package; the pages of the government and the Marine Park Authority were not opened.
- Insufficient Insufficient: primary access to the ANAO audit reports and the Outlook Report; the findings above come from press, NGO and Foundation pages.
- Disputed Disputed: whether management is effective. Minister Ley called the reef the best managed reef in the world in 2019; the Outlook Reports of 2019 and 2024 give an overall outlook of very poor, and the 2024 report rates climate change actions ineffective.
- None on record Not yet determined: whether the 2025 water quality targets were met; the figures cited are for progress to 2022 and the targets were reported as pushed back.
Did the harm stop?
The sources reviewed do not report that harm to the reef has stopped. The Outlook Report 2024, as reported, rated the overall future outlook very poor and climate change actions ineffective, though seagrass and coral cover improved over the reporting period.
Who paid?
Public funds. The Prime Minister's January 2022 announcement put federal Reef 2050 Plan investment at more than A$3 billion after a new A$1 billion over nine years. The A$443.3 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation was a federal grant.
Sources
Press and investigations
- Scott Morrison to announce $1 billion for Great Barrier Reef (Michelle Grattan)The Conversation · 2022-01-27
- Great Barrier Reef: audit finds $443m grant subject to 'insufficient scrutiny' (Lisa Cox), republishedThe Guardian (via Yahoo News Canada) · 2019-01-16
- Audit finds no clear criteria for $444m reef grantSBS News · 2019-01-16
- Australia lowers Great Barrier Reef outlook to 'very poor' (Rod McGuirk)Associated Press (via WJLA) · 2019-08-30
- Millions pledged for Reef-restoration projectsNewsport · 2026-05-21
Communities and civil society
- Foundation welcomes recommendations (media release)Great Barrier Reef Foundation · 2021-05-05
- Big report shows Reef's outlook was very poor even before summer from hell (media release)Australian Marine Conservation Society · 2024-08-25
- Report card shows Great Barrier Reef still has major water pollution problem (media release)Australian Marine Conservation Society · 2024-05-30
Connected cases
- Great Barrier Reef Foundation A$443m grant (Australia) Australia · 2018–2025 Related matter
- Australian National Audit Office (Public authority) — here: Audited the Foundation grant in 2019 and later reports; there: Auditor of the award
- Great Barrier Reef Foundation (NGO) — here: Received the A$443.3 million grant and delivers the Reef Trust Partnership; there: Grant recipient
- Great Barrier Reef 'in danger' listing delayed Australia · 2021–2025 Related matter
- Great Barrier Reef Foundation (NGO) — here: Received the A$443.3 million grant and delivers the Reef Trust Partnership; there: Recipient of a reported 2018 government grant; no other source confirms it
- Australian government water purchase from Eastern Australia Agriculture (Cayman-linked firm) Australia · 2017–2020
- Australian government (Government) — here: Announced the funding and granted A$443.3 million to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation; there: Buyer of the licences
- Australian National Audit Office (Public authority) — here: Audited the Foundation grant in 2019 and later reports; there: Auditor of limited-tender water purchases
- Australia rejects Central Queensland coal mine near Great Barrier Reef Australia · 2023
- Australian government (Government) — here: Announced the funding and granted A$443.3 million to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation; there: Environment minister who refused approval
- Australian government rejects claim that 25 million carbon credits are worthless Australia · 2024
- Australian government (Government) — here: Announced the funding and granted A$443.3 million to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation; there: Rejected the claim that 25 million ACCU credits were worthless
- Australian government rejects claim that natural regeneration credits are worthless Australia · 2022–2024
- Australian government (Government) — here: Announced the funding and granted A$443.3 million to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation; there: rejected the claim about the credits
- MSC certification of Australian orange roughy trawl fishery Australia · 2021–2025
- Australian Marine Conservation Society (NGO) — here: NGO that reported the Outlook Report 2024 and the water quality report card figures; there: Objector
- Murray-Darling irrigation efficiency subsidies, Australia Australia · 2018
- Australian government (Government) — here: Announced the funding and granted A$443.3 million to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation; there: Ordered a probe into water buybacks