Australian marine parks

[3][4][5] In 2012, the Australian government under Labor/Kevin Rudd revealed plans to create the world's largest marine reserve network, made up of five main zones in offshore waters surrounding every state and territory.

[6] The number of marine reserves off the Australian coast would increase from 27 to 60 and would cover 3,100,000 km2 (1,200,000 sq mi) of ocean including the entire Coral Sea.

[6][8] In the lead-up to the 2013 Australian federal election, the Liberal–National Coalition opposition led by Tony Abbott pledged to stop the expansion of marine protection parks announced during Labor's tenure.

This included the reserves of the South-west, North-west, North, Temperate East and Coral Sea marine regions.

[10] The results of the review were released in September 2016, which recommended zoning changes to 26 of 40 reserves and reductions to the area available to mining, while reducing the impact on commercial fisheries.

[18] During a period of 2017, feedback was sought for the draft management plans of the 2012 Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review.