World gives Reef hand

Foundation reveals depth of donations

are giving spare change to stop the Great Barrier Reef dying as the world begins responding to the destruction of one of the world’s great natural wonders, a hearing was told yesterday.

Managing director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Anna Marsden, told a Federal Senate hearing that the concerns of the foundation, which was recently handed an extraordinary half a billion dollars by the Federal Government, were being heard across the world.

“We are getting donations from little children on the street,” Ms Marsden told the Brisbane hearing. “All the world is responding.”

But Federal Labor senator Kristina Keneally questioned why the foundation was granted $443.3 million earlier this year by the Turnbull Government when the existing Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority could just as easily have administered the money.

The former NSW premier questioned why the $443 million was green-lighted without tender and why so much money was granted to an organisation without any clear rationale being provided by someone within government.

Senator Keneally said up to $45 million was included in the $443 million to cover administration costs which might not have been necessary if it was given to GBRMPA which already had a bureaucracy.

She questioned Deb Callister, assistant secretary, Reef Branch of the Department of Environment and Heritage, on what would happen to the money if the foundation wound up.

Ms Callister said there was a range of specifics contained within the agreement that ensured the Commonwealth got “first call” on the cash in the unlikely event the foundation wound up.

The inquiry, which is holding hearings across the country, was told that governments were warned last century the Great Barrier Reef was in danger of destruction and those warnings had become a reality.

Dr Selina Ward of the Australian Coral Reef Society said it was particularly difficult for older scientists to watch the Reef’s destruction.

“We have been saying what is going to happen since last century,” Dr Ward said. “Now it is happening.” Dr Ward said older scientists visiting the Reef during the coral spawning season were witnessing a lack of life compared to scenarios just a few decades ago.