UN Says Great Barrier Reef ‘In Danger'. Oz Disagrees

THE GREAT RIFT: Australia called the recommendation by the UN panel ‘politically motivated’. China chairs the Unesco committee

Canberra: The Great Barrier Reef should be added to a list of World Heritage Sites that are “in danger”, a UN panel said on Tuesday, drawing an angry response from Australia, which called the recommendation “politically motivated”. Australia has lobbied furiously for years to stay off the endangered list as it could lead to the world’s biggest coral reef ecosystem losing the UN heritage status, taking some of the shine off its attraction for tourists.