Portfolio — 19 March 2026

The Assistant Minister for Immigration and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Matt Thistlethwaite, announced a $10 million Reef Educational Experience Fund to support Great Barrier Reef tourism, the centrepiece of an $18.5 million targeted regional support package for Far North Queensland and Central Australia [TA-260319-dfat-03d00d1c5725]. The Assistant Minister said the package delivers on an election commitment to invest in bringing more tourists to the Reef [TA-260319-dfat-03d00d1c5725].

**Reef tourism package**

The $10 million fund supports the Great Barrier Reef tourism industry through two grant programs — Tourism Operator Support Grants and a Tourism Operator Training Program — alongside a new "Kids for the Reef" excursion program designed to bring primary school students to experience the Reef firsthand [TA-260319-dfat-03d00d1c5725]. The package identifies Tourism Tropical North Queensland as the regional delivery partner [TA-260319-dfat-03d00d1c5725].

The two grant programs target operator-level support, with one providing direct financial assistance and the other building workforce and business capacity through training [TA-260319-dfat-03d00d1c5725].

**Policy approach**

The Assistant Minister framed the investment around regional job security and business sustainability [TA-260319-dfat-03d00d1c5725]. The announcement links education and tourism policy: the "Kids for the Reef" component targets school-aged engagement with the Reef, while the operator grants and training program address workforce capacity and business viability [TA-260319-dfat-03d00d1c5725].

The broader $18.5 million envelope extends beyond Reef-specific measures to include Central Australia, signalling a regional-tourism approach that spans both northern and central Australia [TA-260319-dfat-03d00d1c5725]. The package positions Reef tourism as a key employer in Far North Queensland, with the funding structured to support both immediate operator needs and longer-term visitor growth through educational engagement [TA-260319-dfat-03d00d1c5725].