'Nothing to do with threatened species': Coalition accused of overstating spending

Labor, Greens and environment groups call for urgent review of funding for species conservation

• 'Absolute scandal': how does restoring a ship help endangered species?

Labor has accused the federal government of overstating its spending on threatened species projects and the Greens have called for an urgent auditor general's review of all threatened species expenditure by the Department of the Environment and Energy.

It comes after the Guardian revealed the government was claiming projects such as heritage building works at the Old Melbourne Gaol and the Polly Woodside - an old cargo ship in Melbourne's CBD - had benefits for threatened animals and plants that are unlikely to occur at those sites.