Malcolm Turnbull defends surprise $444 million Government donation to tiny reef body

Malcolm Turnbull insists the Government's nearly half-a-billion-dollar donation to a private foundation with links to big resources companies has been done transparently, despite the body itself not asking for the money.

The PM has called the donation "a wonderful investment
in ensuring that we maintain the health of the Great Barrier Reef"

In April the Government announced it would give the Great Barrier Reef Foundation $444 million to fund projects to improve the health of the reef.

The foundation had only six staff when it was told it was getting the huge grant, which managing director Anna Marsden told Radio National was an "absolute surprise”.

Read the ABC News story by Louise Yaxley - “Malcolm Turnbull defends surprise $444 million Government donation to tiny reef body.”

(Responsibility for the demise and death of Australia's Great Barrier Reef can be laid at the feet of Malcolm Turnbull, in particular, and those of his coalition cohort - Robert McLean)

Cherry-picked charity to pocket at least $22.5 million in taxpayer funding for reef

More than $22 million in taxpayer funds will be paid directly to a private foundation hand-picked by the Turnbull government to dispense Australia's largest single Great Barrier Reef funding package, raising fresh questions over the controversial deal.

The Great Barrier Reef Foundation grant is the
largest of its kind in Australian history.

It has also emerged that the foundation will pocket interest earned on the record-large funding windfall, despite previous claims the interest would be directed back into projects to help rescue the natural wonder.

Read Nicole Hasham’s story from The Sydney Morning Herald - “Cherry-picked charity to pocket at least $22.5 million in taxpayer funding for reef.”