Great Barrier Reef: audit finds $443m grant subject to 'insufficient scrutiny'

ANAO finds department decided Great Barrier Reef Foundation was the 'obvious' partner after just three days

An official audit has criticised the Australian government and the environment department for applying "insufficient scrutiny" to numerous aspects of a controversial proposal to award $443.3m to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

In a report tabled on Wednesday, the Australian National Audit Office said the department was given just 11 business days by the government to find a private organisation to deliver the record grant, announced in April last year.