The government says the foundation will use the funds to attract additional donations from the private and philanthropic sectors, however it has not identified the amount to be leveraged. Documents tabled in the Senate show the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the government’s tropical marine research agency, was informed that $100 million allocated to reef restoration and adaptation would be “leveraged two to one”. “The government’s intent is that the GBRF leverages these funds with equivalent amounts from philanthropic and corporate donors, and from research providers, to create [a] $300 million reef science package,” the documents state. The government’s intent is that the GBRF leverages these funds with equivalent amounts from philanthropic and corporate donors, and from research providers, to create [a] $300 million reef science package. Senate-tabled documents The institute expects the foundation will allocate the funding to progress the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, which it is developing with CSIRO and other groups. The program is developing technologies to help the reef cope with threats such as poor water quality and rising water temperatures.

However, in an email to colleagues the institute’s executive director of strategic development David Mead said the deal would involve a series of “trade offs”. "We will need to determine to what degree we focus on quick wins or whether we progress longer-term strategic interventions and accept that we will only partially progress them during the next five years (perhaps with little outward visibility of success/progress),” he wrote. Then-Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg was among senior government MPs to announce the funding in April. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen “Government expectations, industry leveraging conditions and public perceptions may drive the [foundation] to prioritise shorter term research initiatives in order to demonstrate progress and return on investment.” The reference to industry involvement will heighten concerns that the foundation's corporate links, including to the fossil fuel industry, will drive its funding agenda.

The documents also show the institute was informed that the foundation was “looking for early wins ... to ensure they are not perceived to be sitting on the money”. This suggests a portion of the money would be invested quickly, despite Labor’s threat to take the funding back if it wins government. Mr Mead expressed concern about a “disconnect between government’s understanding of what will be delivered from the $100 million investment and what can actually be achieved in the short term”. Great Barrier Reef Foundation chair John Schubert and managing director Anna Marsden at a Senate hearing this month. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen “[F]our fifths of the new funding has been allocated to conventional management techniques, and this is an indication that government does not yet fully understand the time or investment required for large-scale restoration interventions,” he wrote. Documents marked “Sensitive: Cabinet” contain an email sent by the senior communications director at the Department of Environment and Energy, Ruth Dewsbury, regarding the April press conference to announce the funding.