Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching threat raised to highest level

Environment minister accused of omitting climate change as cause of bleaching after surveying death of coral in reef's far north

Australian environment minister Greg Hunt has been accused of going silent on climate change as the cause of dying coral in the Great Barrier Reef after a bleaching alert was raised to its highest level.

Hunt, who surveyed the widespread death of coral in the far north of the reef by plane on Sunday, announced plans for more monitoring and programs to tackle run-off pollution and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.