Retired Great Barrier Reef scientist and researcher Dr Peter Ridd has challenged Premier David Crisafulli to check the science regarding the reef which well-funded reef research bodies have been demonising for a decade in order to attract more research grants.
Crisafulli has refused to accept overwhelming evidence that the health of the reef is the best it has ever been with record coral coverage, contrary to claims by the Australian Institute of Marine Science and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
Incredulously the Queensland Government dished out $330 million on top of $91.8m handed over by the Federal Labor Government in 2025-26.
Spokesman for the Australian Environment Foundation, Dr Ridd, said the Check the Science campaign has moved to a new phase “now that we have a refusal by Crisafulli, and support from Nationals leader Matt Canavan and Senator Malcolm Roberts. (see video below)
“The AEF is starting a fundraiser to raise funds to publisize the CTS idea and also be highly critical of Crisafulli for being intransigent. We will be pointing out that the political landscape has changed in the last year, and Crisafulli is doing little, and diligently looking after Labor laws.”
According to Biodiversity Council Australia AIMS secured the vast majority (roughly 84%) of all federal biodiversity research funding. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority was given $34.9m.
Unchecked science was seriously affecting the future of different industries particularly agriculture which is the the most over-regulated industry in the nation.
“Governments have been making regulations that have been smashing our farmers based on unchecked science,” Dr Ridd said.
Appearing on Sky News, Nationals leader Matt Canavan agreed, saying that checking the science “is what science is all about.”
One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts pointed out that fishing, forestry and water have been almost shut down due to dodgy science.
“When science is distorted and misrepresented it imposes needless, damaging costs on individuals and society as a whole. Almost every major problem in Australia starts with federal or state parliaments ignoring, or worse, deliberately contradicting reliable data,” Senator Roberts said.
Donate to CHECK THE SCIENCE CAMPAIGN, organized by Peter Ridd
