'Bad policy': Tony Burke condemns $444m Great Barrier Reef grant

Shadow environment minister says researchers would be forced to apply to private foundation for taxpayer funds

The shadow environment minister has condemned the "completely unprecedented" grant of $444m to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, claiming the not-for-profit group "doesn't yet know what it's going to do with the money".

Appearing on ABC's Insiders on Sunday, Tony Burke questioned the appropriateness of conditions on the federal funding, which he said would allow the foundation to lobby the mining industry for sponsorship but force researchers to apply to the private foundation to get taxpayer funds.