Fossil fuel-backed Great Barrier Reef Foundation mimicks plastics campaign, sidesteps climate change

The Great Barrier Reef Foundation, given a $444 million grant by the Coalition government in April 2018 without a tender process, is supporting an environmental campaign that simply copies one of Australia’s most successful grassroots environmental initiatives and one that has gone global.

The $444 million grant came under huge scrutiny when it was revealed that at the time the Foundation had just six full-time employees. The final report of the Senate committee examining the government’s decision to award the grant called it “a highly irresponsible decision, hastily concocted by relevant ministers” and recommended the unspent funds be returned to the commonwealth and reserved for future reef projects.

Coalition’s $444m for…