LETTER: Budget fails the Great Barrier Reef

THE Liberals' budget fails the environment and the Great Barrier Reef, cuts billions from clean energy and tops up the billions in hand outs to the fossil fuel industry with another $100 million.

Our Reef is suffering record coral bleaching driven by global warming but the Liberals are ripping out a billion dollars from clean energy and funding for work on reef water quality comes from cutting Landcare. True to its anti-science agenda, the Turnbull Government has locked in the Abbott Government's cuts to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

While environment funding is cut, the mining industry gets another $100 million for exploration to dig up more fossil fuels to further cook the reef's corals.

A better budget would have invested in clean energy, not dirty energy, to help save the 69,000 jobs the reef provides.

The Turnbull Government has completely ignored the world's biggest economic challenge in its budget.

It's a missed opportunity to lead in the global transition to a clean economy that provides 21st century jobs.

LARISSA WATERS Queensland Greens Senator