Reef Funding to End if Australian Labour Party Wins

Canberra: A controversial funding handed to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) will be rescinded if the opposition Australian Labour Party (ALP) wins in the next election. The Australian government in April handed the GBRF a $318.5 million grant, the largest donation to a private foundation from the government till date, without first subjecting the organisation to a competitive tender process.

Tony Burke, the ALP’s environment spokesperson, on Wednesday wrote to John Schubert, chairman of the foundation, warning him that the government can compel the GBRF to return the money. Burke said that as per the grant agreement, the Department of Environment and Energy can terminate the agreement if there is “a material change in the Australian government policy”. Burke said that an ALP government would change the environment policy. Schubert and fellow board members of GBRF are due to appear before a Senate inquiry on the circumstances surrounding the grant on September 18, Xinhua news agency reported. (IANS)