In this special Election Edition of Word on the Reef, Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban dive into one of the most critical questions facing Australians ahead of the Federal Election: Who has the best plan to save the Great Barrier Reef?

To find out, we’re joined by Maria Poulos Conklin, Head of Government Relations at the Australian Conservation Foundation, who breaks down ACF's powerful Election Scorecard, comparing how each major party stacks up on climate and environmental policies... and let's just say it's a little confronting!

PLUS, all the major political candidates for the Far North Queensland electorate of Leichhardt have been invited to share their Reef protection policies with us. Today we're joined by Dr Phillip Musumeci, Greens candidate for Leichhardt, to talk about tube worms, space lasers and why sheep are big fans of solar energy. 🐑

If you care about the Reef and having a safe climate, this episode is a must-listen before you head to the polls.

🎧 Listen now and share with a mate who's still deciding their vote.
 🌐 Scorecard link: www.acf.org.au/scorecard

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email [email protected]
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: [email protected]

The federal election is just two weeks away — and it turns out some politicians are still floundering when it comes to climate change. While the Reef suffers, some parties are busy serving up red herrings instead of real solutions.
 
This week Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban dive into the national emergency that should be making front-page news: the GBR's sixth mass coral bleaching in nine years. That’s right — the Reef’s in hot water, and some leaders are still dodging the science like slippery eels.

We’re joined by special guest Simon Miller from the Australian Marine Conservation Society to unpack the science, the politics, and the solutions. If you care about the Reef, this is the election to vote like it.

Also in this episode:

🐡 Brett shares what the fish think of your vote (and Big Chang the fish throws some serious side-eye.)
 🗳️ Which parties are promising action, and which want to scrap climate targets altogether
  🚒 And why this election might be our last real chance to save the Reef

📸 Photo by Angelina Pilarinos

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email [email protected]
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: [email protected]

This week, our guest is West Australian coral ecologist Associate Professor Zoe Richards, who's had some extraordinary adventures—diving with crocodiles, discovering new coral species and surveying nuclear bomb sites!

We'll journey to Micronesia to uncover an ancient civilisation that built mysterious structures from coral, and to Ningaloo, the world’s largest fringing reef, now sadly in the grips of a mass bleaching event.

From emus on the beach to seals frolicking with corals, this is both a love letter to WA’s reefs and a powerful wake-up call for their protection.

📸 Sea Lion on acropora coral at the Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, Photo by David Juszkiewicz

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email [email protected]
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: [email protected]

This week we're heading back to spectacular Lizard Island to uncover what’s changed since last year’s record-breaking coral bleaching event.

 New research station co-director Dr David Abrego takes us a vivid tour of this world-renowned reef science hub and shares the sobering reality of back-to-back bleaching events that are pushing corals to the brink.

 From flying over glittering turquoise waters to diving deep into marine heatwaves, coral adaptation, and reef restoration, this episode is a rollercoaster of awe, hope, and heartbreak. Discover why Lizard Island has been visited by the likes of David Attenborough and former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, how it inspired world heritage protection, and why what happens there could determine the fate of reefs everywhere.

Highlights include:

• The stunning geography and biodiversity of Lizard Island
• The science behind coral bleaching and why it’s now annual
• Hopeful insights into coral resilience and adaptation research
• What each of us can do—right now—to help protect the reef
• How solar-powered science and climate action are lighting the path forward

This is more than just a reef update—it’s a call to action. Because if we protect the reef, we protect ourselves.

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email [email protected]
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: [email protected]

This week, we dive deep into the heart of the Great Barrier Reef’s current coral bleaching crisis with marine social scientist and CEO of Divers for Climate, Dr. Yolanda Waters.

🔬 What’s causing this widespread bleaching event?
 🌍 How does reef tourism play a crucial role in protecting our oceans?
 🤿 What can divers, snorkelers, and everyday citizens do to take action?

Join us as we explore Yolanda’s groundbreaking research on how climate conversations in tourism can inspire real change. From the power of education on the reef to the actions we can take beyond the water, this episode is packed with insight, passion, and a call to action for everyone who loves the ocean.

Don’t miss this essential conversation.

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email [email protected]
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: [email protected]

This week, conservationist, photographer and filmmaker Christian Miller takes us on an unforgettable journey — from swimming alongside the planet’s largest animal, to eavesdropping on a humpback whale krill hunt. Along the way, we’ll dodge jaguars and flesh-eating ants in the Amazon, and learn why you can’t hide anything from a whale (spoiler: they can literally see through you). Strap in — it’s a wild ride. 

It's our third week broadcasting the show live on CairnsFM 89.1 and it's a cracker! Catch us live every Friday at cairnsfm891.org.au for your weekly deep dive into the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and beyond.

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email [email protected]
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: [email protected]

This week, marine biologist and underwater photographer Lawrence Scheele takes us beneath the surface at Magnetic Island for a wild and wonderful tour of its marine life.

Discover how jellyfish can detect and dodge humans (despite having no brains), why attempting sign language with a cuttlefish is a big mistake, and how to spot the telltale signs that an octopus might be living in your neighbourhood (spoiler: they are messy!)

It's our second week broadcasting the show live on CairnsFM 89.1 and it's a cracker! Catch us live every Friday at cairnsfm891.org.au for your weekly deep dive into the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and beyond.

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email [email protected]
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: [email protected]

Word on the Reef is hitting the airwaves!

We’re now LIVE on CairnsFM 89.1 every Friday at 10 AM (QLD time)! Tune in on your radio or stream online at cairnsfm891.org.au for your weekly deep dive into the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and beyond.

This week, I’m joined by fellow aquanaut Brett Goodban as we uncover the secrets of getting along with your local marine life—including how to avoid getting the side-eye from a grouper (yes, they judge you) and how to turn setbacks into opportunities when life throws you a curveball.

📻 Got questions? Text us live at 0437 835 937 and join the conversation!

Missed an episode? Catch up anytime here on your favourite podcast platform. 🎧

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email [email protected]
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: [email protected]

Today we're continuing our countdown of the Top 8 Fantastic Beasts of the Great Barrier Reef and Where to Find Them, with Master Reef Guide Tahn Miller. You won't believe some of the encounters he's had with today's animals!

Follow Tahn on Instagram

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email [email protected]
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: [email protected]

The Great Barrier Reef has just experienced its worst summer on record, with cyclones, severe rainfall, flooding, and its most extreme coral bleaching event ever. The World Heritage Committee has expressed concerns that the Australian Government isn't doing enough to protect the Reef, particularly regarding its climate policies, and advised the Reef may face a possible 'In Danger' listing. To explain what that means and what we need to do about it, our guest this week is Reef and World Heritage Expert Dr Jon Day.

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email [email protected]
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: [email protected]