The Wire

The removal of an indigenous representative from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is one of the proposed changes to legislation governing the reef, which is being considered by the commonwealth Government. The amendments follow a review of the legislation in 2006, which seeks to improve governance of the Marine Park. But Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett believes this particular amendment is inappropriate. He believes indigenous owners and communities which line the coast of the GBR have a legitimate claim to a representative role within the Authority and removing it will actually have a negative effect on the management of the Park.