‘Wasteful’: federal agency’s $60K spending on coastal five-star eco lodge

The federal agency charged with managing the Great Barrier Reef has spent almost $60,000 on a five-star coastal eco-lodge for a conference of women traditional owners about marine resource management.

Thala Beach Lodge, a five-star Queensland seaside lodge that backs onto the Daintree Rainforest. Picture: supplied

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The federal agency charged with managing the Great Barrier Reef has been accused of “wasteful spending” and a “blatant disregard for taxpayers’ hard-earned money” after it was revealed it spent almost $60,000 on a coastal five-star eco-friendly lodge for a conference that hosted women traditional owners about traditional-use marine resource agreement areas.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority hosted a conference from 29 April to 2 May at the Thala Beach Lodge, a five-star Queensland seaside lodge that backs onto the Daintree Rainforest.

“That was a week-long conference with women traditional owners of, predominantly, our traditional-use marine resource agreement areas that was held in Cairns, and there were some on-country components,” GBRMPA general manager Richard Quincey told Senate estimates last year.

“It was attended by a range of our authority staff but mostly other stakeholders.

“It was really bringing together representation from across our traditional owner groups on the Great Barrier Reef for a component that we think has been under-represented over time, and it was a very, very successful outcome to help build a network of women traditional owners in the sea country management space.”

Inside Thala Beach Lodge, a five-star Queensland seaside lodge that backs onto the Daintree Rainforest. Picture: Supplied

Now, a government tender document revealed the agency spent $59,610 on the accommodation and an answer to a question on notice lodged by then opposition environment spokesman Jonno Duniam revealed that all 28 attendees stayed at the Thala Beach Lodge during the workshop.

Mr Quincey told Senate estimates at the time the agency sought three quotes for accommodation and “picked the most appropriate quote”.

Recently appointed Coalition opposition environment spokeswoman Angie Bell slammed the agency for “wasteful spending”.

“For the Reef Authority to claim a $500 a night luxury resort with a private beach was ‘the most appropriate quote’ in the area is quite frankly, laughable,” Ms Bell told The Australian.

“This $59,610 figure covers 28 individuals who were not even employees of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

“It’s the whole $20,000 desk debacle all over again and it shows a blatant disregard for taxpayers’ hard-earned money.

“The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority does play an important role in the management and preservation of the Reef, but this wasteful spending is just another example of how bureaucrats don’t respect the Australian taxpayer.”

When contacted for comment, the GBRMPA said it “delivers services for and with diverse Queensland communities including First Nations Australians”.

“The agency occasionally conducts workshops to ensure management of the Marine Park aligns with the expectations and needs of those communities,” a spokesperson said.

“The reported costs of the event include flights, accommodation, meals, and venue hire over a four-day period and takes into account participants travelling from remote locations.

“The Women’s Only Sea Country management workshop was successful in building a network of women traditional owners supporting better management of the Great Barrier Reef.”