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A director of the board of directors of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has been accused of a potential conflict of interest regarding public funding intended for companies working on the ## 147 ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 39, felling starfish in crown of thorns.
Margie McKenzie sits on the board of directors and also owns a company called Gempearl with her husband, Col McKenzie.
Reefs authorities have spent more than $ 20 million taxpayers to kill coral-eating crowns of coral-eating sea stars.
According to CBA reports, the money was channeled to two non-profit corporations that then subcontracted the slaughter work to Gempearl.
Col McKenzie is also linked to the two companies that subcontracted the work – the Reef and Tropical Forests Research Center, of which he is a member of the board of directors and the Association of Tourism Operators of the Marine Park.
Freedom of information documents show that Margie McKenzie has not shown her interest in Gempearl for her first two years on the board of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
She provided clarification to her 2015 statement of interest, in which she indicated her role as Executive Director of Gempearl.
Guardian Australia has contacted the McKenzies for a comment.
Margie McKenzie told ABC that she had left the room during any discussion between the authorities of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park about the star of the crown of thorns.
On Tuesday morning, Environment Minister Melissa Price said she was investigating.
"Given the overnight conversation, in the media in particular, we are clearly investigating this," she said. "Because I take the issue of conflict of interest very seriously, we are studying this issue today."
Tony Burke, spokesman for the Labor Environment Organization, said one of the consequences of creating a council of people actively involved in the Great Barrier Reef would be that the various members of administration will have conflicts of interest.
"It is essential that all rules of probity be respected every time this happens."
The environmental organization Australian Conservation Foundation said to be "more and more concerned about the management of the Great Barrier Reef".
"Conflict of interest issues regarding the allocation of GBRMPA-administered taxpayer funds will be of concern to everyone who loves our reef," said Foundation Executive Director Kelly O'Shanassy.
"Australians should be able to ensure that the Great Barrier Reef is well maintained and that the authority and other relevant bodies make the best decisions for its future, not the narrow interests of some."
Price said his department and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority would review the adequacy of the Authority's processes to manage conflicts of interest.
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