Queensland minister says green groups forced radical shift on Great Barrier Reef

Steven Miles welcomes being 'held to account' after his federal counterpart Greg Hunt accused environmental groups of waging a 'deceptive campaign'

Government moves to protect the Great Barrier Reef would not have occurred but for green groups "holding governments to account", Queensland's environment minister, Steven Miles, says.

The federal environment minister, Greg Hunt, has accused environment groups of exaggerating threats to the reef, citing Greenpeace for waging a "deceptive campaign" to have it declared "in danger" by the UN.