The latest Australian and Queensland Government Reef Water Quality Report Card, reveals widespread failure across key metrics, sparking calls for urgent intervention to halt agricultural deforestation across Great Barrier Reef catchments.
The Wilderness Society warns that governments’ focus on minor isolated progress obscures a grim reality: the strategy has failed across 11 out of 13 targets. However, governments have failed to mention they missed these core targets.
Queensland Campaigns Manager at the Wilderness Society, Emily Dickson, says the report provides critical insight into Australia’s performance in managing the health of the Great Barrier Reef. ‘If what the governments are currently doing is failing to meet targets, then it’s time for a conversation about what to do differently.
Failed to meet the targets that the Reef needs
‘The key line that was missing from the press release by Minister Watt and Minister Powell is: “we have failed to meet the targets that the Reef needs – and we will rein in deforestation in Reef Catchments to protect the Reef”,’ she said.
The Australian and Queensland Government’s latest Reef report card shows the devastating reality of the Reef’s health status. Four out of five of the 2025 water quality targets have been missed, with dissolved inorganic nitrogen roughly 50 per cent off target, fine sediment 30 per cent off target, and pesticide risk conditions worse today than they were a decade ago.
The Wilderness Society says the Report also shows forest and bushland along Great Barrier Reef watercourses declining – an alarming result given the crucial role forest and bushlands play as a water filter for the Reef. The report shows coral, seagrass and marine water quality in poor condition, with declines in seagrass and marine water quality.
The Reef’s natural filtration system
Forests and bushland along Reef watercourses (known as riparian vegetation) are the Reef’s natural filtration system. Bulldozing, largely for beef pastures, is destroying thousands of hectares of riverbank forest and bushland, washing dirty mud and chemical runoff into the Great Barrier Reef.
‘Governments must rein in deforestation in Reef Catchments. These results occurred before the EPBC reforms that closed loopholes allowing destruction of forests next to Reef rivers without federal oversight. Now Minister Watt and the National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA) must take strong action to address out-of-control deforestation in Great Barrier Reef Catchments,’ said Ms Dickson.
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