Lloyd, Rohan (2025) Half a century ago, the Great Barrier Reef was to be drilled for oil. It was saved – for a time. The Conversation, 3 September 2025.

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Abstract

[Extract] At the end of the 1960s, there was every expectation the Great Barrier Reef would be drilled for oil.

The first gas well had been drilled in Victoria’s Bass Strait in 1965 and oil was discovered soon afterwards. Queensland wanted to follow suit. In 1967, the state’s entire coastline was opened to oil exploration.

In August that year, conservationists began fighting to save the reef. Public opinion strongly backed their campaign. Even so, victory was by no means certain.

But in 1975, a national marine park was declared over the Great Barrier Reef, banning oil, gas and mining.

Item ID:	88774
Item Type:	Article (Commentary)
ISSN:	2201-5639
Copyright Information:	We believe in the free flow of information and so publish under a Creative Commons — Attribution/No derivatives licence.
Date Deposited:	16 Sep 2025 02:54
FoR Codes:	43 HISTORY, HERITAGE AND ARCHAEOLOGY > 4303 Historical studies > 430307 Environmental history @ 100%
SEO Codes:	13 CULTURE AND SOCIETY > 1307 Understanding past societies > 130703 Understanding Australia’s past @ 100%
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