The Coral Battleground

Teaming with marine life and with more than 130,000 square miles of spectacular coral reefs, sand cays, and islands, the Great Barrier Reef is Australia’s most precious marine possession. The Coral Battleground tells the story of a small group of dedicated conservationists in Queensland—John Busst, Judith Wright, Len Webb, and others—who fought to save the Ellison Reef from coral-limestone mining and the Swain Reefs from oil exploration. First published in 1977, this book tells of how the group swelled to encompass scientists, trade unionists, and politicians throughout Australia, and led in 1976 to the establishment of a guardian body: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. A must read for all those who consider themselves environmental custodians, this book is the story of a group of activists who beat the odds to successfully campaign for Mother Nature.

Judith Wright is an award-winning writer and poet and a conservationist and activist. She was the founder of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland. She is the author of Born of the Conquerors, The Cry for the Dead, and We Call for a Treaty.