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Commonwealth act
This Act is the legal foundation for protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef — one of the world's most significant natural environments and a UNESCO World Heritage Area. It has been in place since 1975 and has been significantly updated over the decades.
1. Creates the Marine Park The Act formally establishes the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, covering the waters, seabed, airspace and subsoil of the designated reef region off the Queensland coast. The Park can be expanded or (very rarely and with parliamentary approval) reduced by the Governor-General.
2. Sets up the governing body It creates the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) — a Commonwealth government body responsible for managing the Park. The Authority has a Chairperson, a CEO, and five other members appointed by the Governor-General. At least one member must be an Indigenous person, and at least one must have tourism industry expertise. The Queensland government nominates one member, reflecting the shared nature of reef management.
3. Zoning — controlling who can do what, and where The Park is divided into zones (think of them like different zoning rules in a city, but underwater). Some zones allow recreational fishing; others are strict no-take scientific reserves. A zoning plan must be prepared for every part of the Park. Before any zone is created, the public gets at least 3 months to have their say.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975.
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View on official registerSourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
4. Ecologically sustainable use A central concept throughout the Act is ecologically sustainable use — meaning you can use the reef, but only in ways that don't damage its long-term health. This includes applying the precautionary principle (if there's a risk of serious damage, don't wait for 100% scientific proof before acting) and intergenerational equity (protecting the reef for future Australians).
5. Permissions system Many activities in the Park require a permit/permission. Commercial tourism operators, researchers, fishers, and others need permission to operate. Some permissions attract a fee (called an environmental management charge).
6. Ship traffic rules Large ships (70 metres or longer) and certain dangerous cargo vessels (oil tankers, chemical carriers, liquefied gas carriers) are classified as regulated ships and face additional requirements, including mandatory pilotage (having a licensed pilot on board to navigate) in designated areas.
7. Indigenous partnership The Act formally recognises traditional owners — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with spiritual, cultural or native title connections to reef areas — and provides for their involvement in management decisions and their right to continue traditional practices in the Park.
8. Compliance and enforcement Inspectors have powers to enforce the rules. Violations can attract civil penalties (fines imposed through the courts without a criminal conviction) or criminal prosecution. Courts can also issue remediation orders (requiring someone who damaged the reef to fix it).
9. International obligations Australia is a signatory to the World Heritage Convention, which requires protecting the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage sites. This Act is one of the key mechanisms by which Australia meets those obligations.
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, supporting enormous biodiversity and generating billions of dollars in tourism annually. This Act is the primary legal shield protecting it. Without this law, there would be no coordinated framework preventing overexploitation, pollution, or destructive development of one of Australia's — and the world's — most precious natural assets.