Federal government considers reef visitor levy to fund conservation as tourism recovers

The federal government is actively examining the introduction of a reef visitor levy of approximately $10 per person for tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef, with consultation underway with the reef tourism industry, Traditional Owners, and conservation groups on the design of a mechanism that would generate an estimated $60 million annually for reef conservation and management.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the levy concept — which would be collected by tour operators and channelled to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for reef management and restoration programs — was consistent with the "beneficiary pays" principle and had precedents in reef management regimes in other countries, including Palau and the Maldives.

Cairns' reef tourism industry, represented by the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, is divided on the proposal. The industry's small operators association has opposed any levy that increases the upfront cost for visitors, citing the price sensitivity of the family tourism market. Premium operators, whose customers are less price-sensitive and who already embed sustainability contributions in their product pricing, have been more supportive.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority chair Anna Marsden strongly supported the levy concept, noting that the Authority's current operating budget was insufficient to manage a marine park of the reef's scale, complexity, and environmental significance. "The reef is worth $6.4 billion annually to the Australian economy. A $10 per visitor contribution is not a cost — it is an investment in the asset that generates those returns," she said.

Federal consultation closes at the end of next month, with a policy decision expected before the winter recess of parliament.

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