Greens, Labor, and crossbench senators are backing an inquiry into how a $444 Million grant for work on the Great Barrier Reef went to a small not-for-profit charity without a competitive tender process.

Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson moved the inquiry after The Great Barrier Reef Foundation got the big money in April.  At issue is the foundation's ability to deliver on its responsibilities in the government's reef 2050 plan.

"In this case we have seen them outsource the control of the purse strings for reef science and repair, and in other cases we have seen the government seek funds from the private sector to save endangered species or help manage its own national parks," said Mr. Whish-Wilson as quoted by The Guardian newspaper.  "There can't be any more important task for the Australian government than being steward of the Great Barrier Reef, one of the true natural wonders of the world, and with this Senate inquiry we will get to the bottom of what it means to have had this funding redirected away from the existing public agencies."

The inquiry will also look into the tiny's foundation's management and the process in which the grant was awarded.

"It beggars belief that a record-breaking donation to a private foundation would take place without the minister seeking any advice from the Great Barrier Reef marine park authority which is charged under Australian law as being the principle adviser on matters about the Great Barrier Reef," said Labor’s environment spokesman, Tony Burke.  "It is still not clear that the Great Barrier Reef Foundation is even able to cope with a grant of this size.  Their previous revenue for 2015 and 2016 was $9.6 Million and $8 Million respectively.  The foundation has six full-time and five part-time members."

Mr. Burke also wants to know why there was no correspondence between the Great Barrier Reef marine park authority and the office of environment and energy minister Josh Frydenberg in the weeks prior to the award.