Great Barrier Reef authority gives green light to dump dredging sludge

A million tonnes of spoil to be disposed of in marine park - prompting calls for a ban on all offshore dumping

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has approved the dumping of more than 1m tonnes of dredge spoil near the reef, using a loophole in federal laws that were supposed to protect the marine park.

The Greens senator Larissa Waters has called for the permit - which allows maintenance dredging to be carried out over 10 years at Mackay's Hay Point port and the sludge to be dumped within the marine park's boundaries - to be revoked.