Barrier Reef not ‘in danger’

AUSTRALIA’S Great Barrier Reef has avoided being listed as “in danger” by the UN, but the decision was described as perplexing by scientists who said the condition of the coral and marine life was “worse than ever”. Despite expressing concern about the reef’s recent mass bleaching events, Unesco’s World Heritage Committee decided not to list the marine park as endangered.

But the committee’s draft decision criticised Australia for failing to improve water quality.