With a trip to the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns in far north Queensland,  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd continues  to inspect the effects of climate change.

Mr Rudd and Federal Climate Change Minister Senator Penny Wong arrive in Port Douglas this morning for a boat cruise of the Great Barrier Reef to assess the impact of coral bleaching.

Last night, the party faithful in Cairns heard the Prime Minister outline his concerns that global warming could undermine Queensland’s coastal economy.

“If we don’t act on climate change, the Great Barrier reef effectively disappears,” he said.

Senator Wong believes the issue is especially relevant to Queensland.

“You have a highly populated coastline, you are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise,” she said.

Mr Rudd says the proposed carbon trading scheme gives Australia the credentials to negotiate with other nations over climate change controls.