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The reef contains a higher degree of biodiversity than any other World Heritage site United Nations heritage body Unesco has voted not to put Australia's Great Barrier Reef on its world danger list. The decision has been welcomed by the state of Queensland, which generates billions of dollars in tourism revenue from the reef. Despite deciding against giving the reef protected status, Unesco did warn that it faced "major threats". The reef, which stretches 2,000km (1,200 miles) along the coast, is the world's largest living ecosystem. Jackie Trad, Queensland's deputy state premier, told the BBC she was "absolutely pleased about the decision". "It was an incredible moment in history, in Queensland and Australian history," said Ms Trad. She acknowledged there had been a decline in the health of the reef, but said that the Queensland government had made "strong commitments" to protecting it. Australia will have to report ba...

The Great Barrier Reef stretches for more than 2,600km (1,680 miles) along Australia's eastern coast. The Australian government is to ban the dumping of earth from seabed excavation on the Great Barrier Reef. Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the ban would apply to existing excavation proposals as well as future proposals. The proposals apply to industrial excavation known as capital dredging used to create or enlarge shipping channels. The reef, home to a huge array of life, is under threat from massive industrial development to enlarge port facilities. Mr Hunt said the dumping of capital dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park would be completely banned under draft legislation drawn up by the federal government. "This will end the practice that has been going on for 100 years for perpetuity," he said. Mr Hunt said the move would protect the 99% of the marine park that is the responsibility of the federal government. The Queensland governm...

Australia's security hotline received 18 calls about a self-styled cleric just days before his deadly attack on a Sydney cafe - but none suggested an imminent attack, a report says. The first official review into the attack at the Lindt cafe says the calls related to offensive Facebook posts by hostage-taker Man Haron Monis. Two hostages were killed along with Monis during the December siege. "Plainly, the system has let us down," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said. Mr Abbott, who will make a national security address on Monday, said he would consider changes to the legal and immigration systems in response to the siege. He said Australia would have to reconsider where the line between individual freedoms and the safety of the community would have to be "redrawn". "This monster should not have been in our community," he added. Mr Abbott's comments came as he released  a 90-page report conducted by officials from the federal government a...

Two major storms have slammed into Australia, knocking out power, damaging homes and forcing evacuations in coastal areas. Tropical Cyclone Marcia hit the Queensland coast between Yeppoon and St Lawrence on Friday morning local time. Arriving with little warning as a Category Five storm, it has now been downgraded to a Two but still threatens high tides and heavy rain. Separately, Tropical Cyclone Lam hit a remote area of the Northern Territory. 'Terrifying experience' In its latest update , the BOM said Marcia had weakened to a Category Two cyclone, with sustained winds of 110km/h (72mph) and gusts of up to 155km/h. It was about about 60km west of the town of Gladstone, Queensland and 65km north-northeast of Biloela, and moving south-southeast at 18 kmh but expected to weaken below cyclone strength by Saturday morning. "Destructive winds" battered coastal and island communities including Yeppoon in Queensland About 870 Yeppoon homes were evacuated...