Labor is “running out of patience” as the government and The Great Barrier Reef Foundation continue to dodge questions about a mysterious $444-million grant.

Labor Senator Kristina Keneally has been vocal about her opposition to the grant and says a number of foundation members will not agree to give evidence to the parliamentary committee.

“The chairman of the foundation Dr John Schubert, he’s declined about half a dozen dates,” she tells Ben.

“We’re running out of patience here.

“I don’t want the committee to have to go to this depth of… issuing a summons.

“We’d like to see them front up.”

Ms Keneally is “demanding answers about this closed-door meeting”.

“It’s because we’re frustrated. We’re frustrated by the lack of answers we’ve got from the government so far.

“This is such a strange way to administer public funding. It is such a strange way for a government to proceed.

“It had to originate with somebody who had this brain explosion that this is how we should give away half a billion of public funds.”

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