Scott Morrison says $444m Great Barrier Reef grant 'right financial decision'

PM says he and Mathias Cormann were responsible for awarding the money to foundation in one year

Scott Morrison has said he and the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, were responsible for the government's decision to give $444m to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation in one year.

At a doorstop in Perth on Monday the prime minister said that the pair, as the Coalition's economic team before the 2018 budget, had worked out "the best way to do [the grant] financially", and argued it was the right decision because it helped the reef without "blowing the budget".