Vote for the Reef

WITH the Federal Election just around the corner, a new video advert is campaigning for Australians to ‘Vote for The Reef’ when they head to the polls on July 2.

Fight for the Reef — a partnership between WWF-Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society — hopes to raise awareness to the threats impacting the 69,000 jobs and $6 billion tourism industry relying on the Great Barrier Reef.

At the centre of the advert is Airlie Beach local and Sundowner Cruises business owner Nicole Graham, her husband and two of her children.

Ms Graham knows first-hand how important the Great Barrier Reef is to the tourism industry and the Australian economy having worked as a tourist operator out of Airlie Beach for the past 20 years.

After meeting her partner while working on cruise ships, the pair made the decision to move from Sydney to start a family-owned business taking a wooden sailing ship out showing visitors the natural beauty of the reef.

“Over the past 20 years, I have noticed people are becoming more aware of the risks to the future of the Great Barrier Reef,” she told news.com.au

“There is now science and facts showing if we don’t protect the reef, jobs and the tourism industry will cease to exist for future generations.”