Great Barrier Reef authority chairman appointed days after dire bleaching forecast

Australian Marine Conservation Society calls on Ian Poiner to take 'aggressive' stance on reef's behalf

The Australian government has appointed marine scientist Ian Poiner as the new chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, days after a dire new forecast for coral bleaching was issued.

The appointment to the authority, which manages the reef and advises the government on its care, also comes months after the government granted $443m in reef funding to the private Great Barrier Reef Foundation instead of key agencies including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.