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The Guardian
09-08-2025
- General
- The Guardian
‘If the reef had a voice, it would sing': could legal personhood help the Great Barrier Reef?
While patrolling the Great Barrier Reef, Gary Singleton was struck by an eerie stillness. The Coral Sea lay flat as glass beneath a heavy, windless sky. The heat was stifling, the water a little too warm. 'It was beautiful,' he says. 'But I remember thinking, 'I feel sorry for the reef.'' That moment stayed with him. A Yirrganydji traditional owner and land and sea manager in the Cairns-Port Douglas region, Singleton has spent more than 12 years working to protect the reef – as warming seas, sediment runoff, pollution and overfishing steadily erode its resilience. Just this week a report found a record drop in live coral in two out of three sections of the reef, prompting warnings that a tipping point for the ecosystem's future is approaching. 'My biggest fear is that we'll lose everything,' says Singleton, whose father, Gavin Singleton Sr, was also a sea ranger. 'It's a big part of our identity. We don't just think of the Great Barrier Reef as coral, we think of it as an entire system. A living thing.' As traditional owners like Singleton witness the reef's decline first-hand, some are beginning to ask a deeper question: what if the reef had the same legal rights as a person? Around the world, rivers, forests and mountains have been recognised as legal entities under a growing legal movement known as the 'rights of nature'. In the case of the Great Barrier Reef, the rights of nature model could recognise the world's largest coral system as a legal person: an entity capable of holding rights and having those rights defended in court. 'I've been quite interested in the concept of recognising the reef as its own living entity,' Singleton says. 'Like New Zealand, with some of the rivers and mountains being given[legal personhood] status. 'It's about separating the politics and all that outside noise and really giving the reef the respect it deserves as its own entity, its own being.' According to Dr Michelle Maloney, a lawyer and co-founder of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance, rights of nature laws could profoundly improve Australia's environmental governance system. 'Australian law, like most western legal systems, treats nature as human property: a collection of objects to be used, exploited or protected,' she says. 'In contrast, Aboriginal legal systems, some of the oldest continuous legal systems in the world, have always seen nature as alive. We have a lot to learn from Aboriginal law.' Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Rights of nature encompasses different approaches to trying to extend new rights or protections to nature, through granting ecosystems or natural objects status as legal persons or living entities. Legal personhood is a legal construct that grants legal rights to entities. Living entity is a term that recognises something is in fact alive, not just an object, but being granted this status doesn't create a legal right. Maloney believes that granting the reef legal personhood could be relatively straightforward, if the political will were there. 'In theory, the government could pass a law that says the Great Barrier Reef is a legal entity and has rights to exist, thrive, evolve and continue its vital cycles,' she says 'And there are a number of different ways such a law could be implemented.' Under one model, guardians – including traditional owners and other stakeholders – would be appointed to act on the reef's behalf. 'It would mean a process that made sure all of the different First Nations people up and down the reef system could be guardians for their land and sea country.' she says. Maloney says this systemic change isn't just a tool for symbolism but for action: 'Let's say a container ship leaked oil. The reef's guardians could sue the company for damages on behalf of the reef. Guardians could also have a stronger voice in future planning to reduce activities that damage the reef.' The legal personhood model appeals to Victor Bulma, a Mandingalbay Yidinji man and marine park inspector who lives in Yarrabah, just south of Cairns. 'I would definitely support it,' he says. 'It is a great idea to give us some sort of rights and stuff. But yeah, that'd be a big hill to climb.' He has witnessed significant changes to the reef over his lifetime. But it's the changes to the coral he finds most alarming. 'Back when I was younger the reef was very, very colourful,' he says. 'It was paradise. Global warming plays a big part in the damage of it. Some parts of the reef are just grey.' Maloney believes legal personhood could give guardians like Bulma greater power to defend the reef from climate change. 'It's not just the elephant in the room, it's the elephant starting to crush us all,' she says. 'And we have a government that refuses to take it seriously and denies any duty of care.' She points to the federal court ruling in the Pabai case, which found the government has no duty of care to Torres Strait Islanders on climate change, as evidence of the system's failure. 'I'd like to think legal personhood would change things for the better. Because if the law says its guardians have a right to do all they can to protect the reef, then they should be able to force real change.' Internationally, the rights of nature movement is gaining momentum. Ecuador became the first country to enshrine the rights of nature in its constitution in 2008; since then, dozens of successful court cases have been brought on behalf of ecosystems. In Australia, Victoria passed legislation in 2017 recognising the Yarra River as a living entity, acknowledging its ecological value and cultural significance to the Wurundjeri people. Sign up to Five Great Reads Each week our editors select five of the most interesting, entertaining and thoughtful reads published by Guardian Australia and our international colleagues. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Saturday morning after newsletter promotion While New Zealand's Whanganui River was granted legal personhood as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, the path is more complex in Australia. 'There are no treaties between First Nations people and the British or Australian governments, and Aboriginal people have fewer triggers in the law to insist on their rights,' Maloney says. 'That makes it a little harder. Not impossible, but harder.' For Singleton, who spends his days restoring coral and seagrass, monitoring marine life and planting trees along the coastline, the need to protect the reef is undeniable. 'The thing is, the reef's threats are cumulative … you can't single out one thing,' he says. 'The entire ecosystem needs protecting. Our elders have always seen the reef holistically.' He hopes the concept of legal personhood can help reframe public thinking, not just about damage, but about responsibility. 'As people, we are benefiting from the reef – socially, economically and culturally,' he says. 'But how does the reef benefit?' This year Singleton and Bulma joined a campaign to nominate the Great Barrier Reef for a UN lifetime achievement award; the first time a non-human entity has been put forward. The honour has previously recognised individuals such as Sir David Attenborough. In July the reef received a less celebratory distinction: the UN warned it could soon be added to the world heritage 'in danger' list, citing mounting threats from climate change and pollution. The Australian government has until early 2026 to show progress – or risk the reef's heritage status being downgraded. Singleton admits he initially questioned the intent behind the UN nomination. 'I did hear a comment somewhere about whether this was a media stunt,' he says. 'But I do think there is some genuine respect in there. It would be good to have more people speaking across the whole reef, to strengthen that voice.' That voice, he says, has always existed, if only we would listen. 'In our language, we call the reef Yurrbinji, which means 'song'. I've always thought, if the reef had a voice, it would sing.' Bulma shares that hope, especially for future generations. 'It's for our kids and grandkids. We've got to protect the reef, so they can see what we saw and feel that same connection.' 'We need to put this more on a global level,' he adds. 'I'll cross my fingers for that.'
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Unmanned ocean craft has been spotted off the coast of Queensland
An unmanned ocean craft has been spotted off the coast of Queensland, deployed on behalf of the United States military. Powered by wave motion and solar energy, the Wave Glider is an autonomous vessel designed to collect real-time intelligence for both defence and environmental applications. It was recently seen off the coast of Mackay, on the Coral Sea in north Queensland, during a week-long deployment that ends on Thursday, July 24. Developed by US marine robotics firm Liquid Robotics, the mission was arranged on behalf of the US Special Operations Command. The exact purpose of the deployment remains unclear. The craft can be configured for a wide range of defence and civilian uses, depending on its customised payload. Its capabilities include tracking and communicating with submarines, gathering acoustic, signal, and image intelligence, and conducting surface and sub-surface surveillance and communications. On the surface, the Wave Glider is not much larger than a surfboard, with a mast extending about a metre above the water. This is connected via an 'umbilical' tether to a submerged unit located roughly eight metres below. Originally designed to record the sounds of humpback whales, the Wave Glider has since evolved into a versatile defence tool through a partnership with Boeing. In 2016, a network of Wave Gliders was used to detect, report, and track a live submarine during the UK Navy's Unmanned Warrior demonstration. The crafts were fitted with acoustic sensors made by Boeing to locate an underwater vehicle and a diesel submarine off the coast of Northern Scotland. Later that year, Boeing acquired Liquid Robotics, which now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary under Boeing's Defence, Space and Security division. First developed in 2007, the technology can collect data on wind, weather, and waves, and can reportedly operate unmanned for up to a year. It is also used for environmental assessment and offshore energy applications. In 2017, the Wave Glider was deployed by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) to monitor conditions in the Great Barrier Reef. The 200-nautical-mile trial mission provided continuous, real-time environmental ocean data, including temperature, turbidity, currents, wave height, and salinity. Dr Lyndon Llewellyn, Head of Data and Technology Innovation at AIMS, said the craft's ability to remain true to its charted course was 'extraordinary'. 'It went where it was told to and it stayed the course like an orienteering champion,' he said in a statement at the time. 'We are impressed with the number of different measurements it could conduct at the same time and its ability to transmit the data back to our base immediately and reliably while navigating and performing its mission.' A spokesperson confirmed AIMS had not used the Wave Glider since the 2017 trial. Liquid Robotics has been contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
The Guardian
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Hegseth announces new name of US navy ship that honored gay rights icon Harvey Milk
The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has formally announced that the US navy supply vessel named in honor of the gay rights activist Harvey Milk is to be renamed after Oscar V Peterson, a chief petty officer who received the congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of the Coral Sea in the second world war. 'We are taking the politics out of ship naming,' Hegseth announced on Friday on X. In an accompanying video-statement, Hegseth added: 'We are not renaming the ship to anything political. This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration. Instead, we are renaming the ship after a congressional Medal of Honor recipient.' 'People want to be proud of the ship they are sailing in,' Hegseth added. The move comes amid a widespread backlash against LGBTQ+ rights and issues in the US under the Trump administration, ranging from banning books associated with LGBTQ+ causes to reducing the rights of transgender people. The oil-supply vessel had been named after the San Francisco gay rights activist, who was murdered in 1978 after serving as a city supervisor, dubbing himself the 'Mayor of Castro Street'. He had served in the navy as a diving officer on a submarine rescue ship but resigned with an 'other than honorable' discharge rather than be court-martialed for homosexuality. Peterson served on the USS Neosho, a ship that was heavily damaged by Japanese dive bombers on 7 May 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea. In one bombing raid, Peterson and members of the repair party he led were severely wounded. But despite his injuries, he managed to close four steam line valves, suffering third-degree burns to his face, shoulders, arms and hands in the process. But by closing the bulkhead valves, Peterson isolated the steam to the engine room and helped keep the ship operational. In an announcement that appeared timed for the start of Pride month, Hegseth announced that Milk's name was to be stripped from ship in early June. It had been named after the gay icon in 2016 by then-navy secretary Ray Mabus, who said at the time that the John Lewis-class of oilers would be named after leaders who fought for civil and human rights. The move to strip Milk's name from the ship triggered a backlash from the activist's friends when it was first reported. 'Yes, this is cruel and petty and stupid, and yes, it's an insult to my community,' Cleve Jones, Milk's close friend and an LGBTQ+ activist, previously told the Associated Press. 'I would be willing to wager a considerable sum that American families sitting around that proverbial kitchen table this evening are not going to be talking about how much safer they feel now that Harvey's name is going to be taken off that ship,' he added to the news agency. Milk's nephew, Stuart Milk, told the AP that renaming the ship would become 'a rallying cry not just for our community but for all minority communities'. He added: 'I don't think he'd be surprised, but he'd be calling on us to remain vigilant, to stay active.' Elected officials, including the former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and California's governor, Gavin Newsom, described the change as an attempt to erase the contributions of LGBTQ+ people and an insult to fundamental American values of honoring veterans. 'The right's cancel culture is at it again. A cowardly act from a man desperate to distract us from his inability to lead the Pentagon,' Newsom said of Hegseth on the social media platform X.
The Guardian
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Hegseth announces new name of US navy ship that honored gay rights icon Harvey Milk
US defense secretary Pete Hegseth has formally announced that the US navy supply vessel named in honor of gay rights activist Harvey Milk is to be renamed after Oscar V Peterson, a chief petty officer who received the congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in the battle of the Coral Sea in the second world war. 'We are taking the politics out of ship naming,' Hegseth announced on Friday on X. In an accompanying video-statement, Hegseth added: 'we are not renaming the ship to anything political. This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration. Instead, we are renaming the ship after a congressional Medal of Honor recipient.' 'People want to be proud of the ship they are sailing in,' Hegseth added. The move comes amid a widespread backlash against LGBTQ+ rights and issues in the US under the Trump administration, ranging from banning books associated with LGBTQ+ causes to reducing the rights of transgender people. The oil-supply vessel had been named after the San Francisco gay rights activist, who was murdered 1978 after serving as a city supervisor, dubbing himself the 'Mayor of Castro Street'. He had served in the navy as a diving officer on a submarine rescue ship but resigned with an 'other than honorable' discharge rather than be court-martialed for homosexuality. Peterson served on the USS Neosho, a ship that was heavily damaged by Japanese dive bombers on 7 May 1942, during the battle of the Coral Sea. In one bombing raid, Peterson and members of the repair party he led were severely wounded. But despite his injuries, he managed to close four steam line valves, suffering third-degree burns to his face, shoulders, arms and hands in the process. But by closing the bulkhead valves, Peterson isolated the steam to the engine room and helped keep the ship operational. In an announcement that appeared timed for the start of Pride month, Hegseth announced that the Milk's name was to be stripped from ship in early June. It had been named after the gay icon in 2016 by then-navy secretary Ray Mabus, who said at the time that the John Lewis-class of oilers would be named after leaders who fought for civil and human rights. The move to strip Milk's name from the ship triggered a backlash from the activist's friends when it was first reported. 'Yes, this is cruel and petty and stupid, and yes, it's an insult to my community,' Cleve Jones, Milk's close friend and an LGBTQ+ activist, previously told the Associated Press. 'I would be willing to wager a considerable sum that American families sitting around that proverbial kitchen table this evening are not going to be talking about how much safer they feel now that Harvey's name is going to be taken off that ship,' he added to the news agency. Milk's nephew, Stuart Milk, told the AP that renaming the ship would become 'a rallying cry not just for our community but for all minority communities'. He added: 'I don't think he'd be surprised, but he'd be calling on us to remain vigilant, to stay active.' Elected officials, including the former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and California's governor, Gavin Newsom, described the change as and attempt to erase the contributions of LGBTQ+ people and an insult to fundamental American values of honoring veterans. 'The right's cancel culture is at it again. A cowardly act from a man desperate to distract us from his inability to lead the Pentagon,' Newsom said of Hegseth on the social media platform X.
Washington Post
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Hegseth directs renaming of Navy ship honoring LGBT icon Harvey Milk
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that a Navy vessel that recognizes gay rights icon Harvey Milk has been renamed, saying that ships should not be named for activists. The vessel will instead be known as the USNS Oscar V. Peterson, recognizing a sailor who earned the Medal of Honor, the nation's top award for valor in combat, in the Battle of the Coral Sea, a World War II clash in which U.S. and Australian forces fought the Japanese navy.
