On election eve, the Greens candidate for Leichhardt Jo Kloot reminded voters the Great Barrier Reef was under pressure like never before with UNESCO warning the reef could be added to the international list of World Heritage sites in danger by next year.

"More than 60,000 people rely on the reef's health for their job,” Ms Kloot said. “These are sustainable jobs for Queenslanders that will outlast the mining bubble's inevitable burst."

“Local jobs in Leichhardt are under direct threat unless we act now to minimise impacts on the reef.

“Recent scientific evidence shows that coral cover has declined from around 50 per cent in the 1960s to around 14 per cent in 2011.  If this decline continues the reef tourism industry will be wiped out.

"The GBR is suffering from farm run-off, bleaching, acidification and storm damage from climate change. On top of that, the old parties are on track to approve five new or expanded coal and gas ports along the reef's coast.

"It's incredibly short-sighted of the old parties to be tearing up the Reef for the sake of exporting hundreds of mega tonnes of coal that will significantly increase global warming.”

In a statement, the Greens said "Tony Abbott’s Reef policy completely ignores the impacts of mining industrialisation, just like Kevin Rudd’s does. Bob Katter’s and Clive Palmer’s policies are no better, or even worse, they don’t have any."

“Tony Abbott has joined Kevin Rudd with a toothless Reef policy that does nothing to stand in the way of the reef being turned into a dumping ground for dredge spoil and a shipping super highway for the big mining companies,” Ms Kloot said.

“While we agree that funding for crown of thorns eradication is needed, the problem will only be exacerbated by the continued mass dumping of dredge spoil which lowers water quality, creating ideal conditions for this invasive species.  

“The Greens have a comprehensive $176 million Reef package including increased funding for the Reef Rescue program that supports farmers improving the water quality of their runoff to the reef, and an extra $20 million a year for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to properly resource its important research, regulatory compliance and community engagement.

“We are also committing $16 million for long-term reef planning to set clear no-go zones for destructive development.”