The controversial Great Barrier Reef Foundation spent tens of thousands of dollars hosting Australian business leaders at a luxury island resort, after it was awarded a $443 million grant from the federal government.
The "Chairman's Panel Weekend" was held from May 18 to 20 at the luxury Hamilton Island resort Qualia.
According to a copy of the program seen by BuzzFeed News, guests enjoyed multiple drinks events, a bonfire on the beach, and a guided snorkelling excursion. Information sessions at the conference ran for a total of five hours over the three days.
The guest list included CSIRO CEO Larry Marshall and the CEO of the Australian Institute of Marine Science Dr Paul Hardisty.
According to its website: "qualia (pronounced kwah-lee-ah) in Latin means 'a collection of deeper sensory experiences'. qualia is situated on the secluded northern-most tip of Hamilton Island surrounded by all the splendour of the Great Barrier Reef. With a relaxed aspect and mesmerising calmness, time seems to stretch forever."
Qualia charges from $1,350 to $5,500 a night.
Earlier this month it was revealed that the prime minister offered the Great Barrier Reef Foundation – a not-for-profit organisation with six staff that has ties to mining companies and other corporations – the $443 million grant for environmental projects associated with the reef in a single meeting with environment minister Josh Frydenberg, and foundation chair John Schubert.
There was no tender process, and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation had not asked for the funding. The department has said that the proper grant process was followed after the meeting was held.
“The costs for this meeting [conference] are covered by a portion of their membership fees,” a spokeswoman for the foundation told The Daily Telegraph.
The foundation said the conference allowed guests to see firsthand the recovery efforts of the reef, how the foundation's research program worked and also informed them about the “importance of tackling climate change”.
Shadow environment minister Tony Burke has called on the federal government to reneg on the grant.
On Monday the secretary of the Department of Environment Finn Pratt wrote to the auditor-general asking for a review of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation grant to be made a priority.
"Given the intense public and media interest over the last few weeks, I consider such an audit has become a priority and ask that you consider approving it going ahead and starting as soon as practicable," Pratt wrote.
Frydenberg said he welcomed an audit of the grant.
“The auditor-general has publicly stated an interest in undertaking an audit of the GBRF Partnership which we would welcome," Frydenberg said. "I have therefore asked the secretary of my department to write to the ANAO and request that he consider such an audit as a priority.”
The foundation was given the full $443 million in one lump payment before the end of the last financial year.
On Monday the foundation's managing director Anna Marsden said she was unaware that the department had undertaken due diligence processes over the grant. Environment minister Frydenberg told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday "extensive due diligence" was undertaken.