Cairns industrial port proposal ruled out over Great Barrier Reef impact fears

Parliamentary committee recommended making Cairns a 'priority port' but Queensland government says it is committed to keeping reef off 'in danger' list

The Queensland government has ruled out major development of a port in Cairns that would jeopardise Australia's pledge to Unesco to limit industrial impacts on the Great Barrier Reef.

A parliamentary committee on Tuesday recommended the government consider making Cairns a "priority port", which would pave the way for capital dredging to enable shipping channels.