An extra $1 billion is being promised to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

The federal government says the funding, to be spent over nine years, will improve water quality, reduce the threat of invasive species and prevent illegal fishing.

The reef has lost around half its coral since 1995, and is facing the prospect of being listed as “in danger” with a United Nations report on its health due next month.

Federal Minister for Environment, Sussan Ley, says “the biggest threat is climate change”, but Australia’s ability to stop that is limited, so the funding will be spent on a threefold approach.

“We don’t stand back from the threat of climate change, but … Australia can’t control the emissions trajectory of the whole world,” she told Neil Mitchell.

“We do what we do on emissions and climate change, which is a global problem.

“We then work on adaptation — so build health, resilient corals that actually can cope with rising water temperatures — and we work everyday with the science and the management on the actual park itself … managing fishing, making sure that our threatened species are protected.”

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