A protester lies on a Japanese flag covered in fake blood as members of Animal Liberation Victoria protest outside Japan's consulate over Japan's hunting of nearly 1,000 whales in the Southern Ocean, in Melbourne 03 January 2008. (AFP/William West)
We went out on a daily boat that took about 2 hours to get out to the reef in what felt like the middle of the ocean. We were 2 of the over 2 million visitors a year. We snorkeled from the large platform and many others went scuba diving. We could see them below us because the water was crystal clear.An extensive plan to save Australia's Great Barrier Reef has been announced by Prime Minister John Howard's main rival in the forthcoming elections. The move by Labor leader Kevin Rudd has brought environmental issues to the centre of the campaign stage.
Mr Howard has been criticised within his own party for his lack of action on the environment and climate change. His refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol is believed to be one factor in his increasing unpopularity among voters.
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia's leading tourist destination, is being damaged by water pollution and rising sea temperatures, which are killing off the millions of coral that make up its 2300km (1429 mile) length."The Great Barrier Reef is Australia's greatest natural asset," Mr Rudd said.
