Countries rally to demand UNESCO action on Great Barrier Reef

Scott Morrison has lashed an ‘appalling’ decision to downgrade the Great Barrier Reef, as China dismisses claims it was behind the move as ‘smear and slander’.

Officials representing a dozen countries including the UK and Indonesia have signed a missive backing the Great Barrier Reef and expressing concerns UNESCO planned to list it “in danger”.

It followed concerns raised that UNESCO had skipped normal processes to making the controversial listing without warning and suggestion it’s draft recommendation was influenced by China.

The Far Northern Reefs of the Great Barrier Reef are still in excellent condition. Picture: Seanna Cronin

Overnight a missive sent to UNESCO’s Audrey Azoulay warned there were shared “collective concerns” over how the recommendation was arrived at.

“Any recommendation from the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies should be based on transparent, extensive and close consultation processes with the State Parties concerns,” the letter stated.

“Including on properties where the World Heritage Committee is being asked to consider significant decisions, such as immediate in-danger listings of properties and nominations dossiers.”

The letter was signed by delegates to UNESCO of countries including Australia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Poland, Hungary, the UK and Northern Ireland, France, Spain, Thailand, Turkey the Philippines and Canada.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the processes of UNESCO had been “appalling” but the list of countries backing Australia were “extraordinary”.

“We have been busy talking to our friends,” he said.

“Sure (the reef) has its challenges, like sensitive environments all around the world, but Australia does it better than anywhere else.

“We’ll be making the case and we really do think this process has been appalling.

“It’s quite different to when this issue was dealt with by UNESCO early on in our government back in 2014.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says UNESCO’s process towards recommending the Great Barrier Reef be listed as “in-danger” have been “appalling”. Picture: Thomas Samson/AFP

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian flatly rejected suggestions Beijing had forced the move.

“Some people in Australia have been spreading China-related rumours and disinformation out of ideological bias,” he said on Tuesday.

“In the same vein, what you just mentioned is totally groundless smear and slander.”

On May 27 Australia was assured there would be no change to the reef’s listing, but UNESCO changed its position on Monday night in a move Environment Minister Sussan Ley said “blindsided” the government.

The last time UNESCO’s experts visited the site in ­person was in 2012, The Courier-Mail understands.

There are Chinese officials in senior positions with UNESCO, the World Heritage Centre and World Heritage Committee who weigh in on the decision on the reef.

Labor environment spokeswoman Terri Butler said earlier this week there had been three coral bleaching events in the past five years and if there were other reasons behind the decision Australians “would be disappointed”.