Foreign journalists have been invited on a week-long all expenses paid trip to the Great Barrier Reef as part of the federal government 's campaign to stop it being put on the United Nations 'in danger ' list . The reporters , who all hail from countries on the world heritage committee , are being flown to Queensland to see the reef and learn about the government 's conservation efforts , Guardian Australia reports . The trip next week , which has reportedly been organised by a Great Barrier Reef taskforce set up by the Department of Foreign Affairs , comes before a Unesco committee meeting in June where the reef 's World Heritage status will be considered . Foreign journalists have been invited on a week-long all expenses paid trip to the Great Barrier Reef as part of the federal government 's campaign to stop it being put on the United Nations 'in danger ' list . Conservation groups have since hit out at the government saying it should spend less time showing off their efforts to journalists and more time protecting the reef . 'We want to see the reef fixed and protected , ' Felicity Wishart , spokeswoman for the Australian Marine Conservation Society , told Daily Mail Australia . 'The government is spending what seems like a massive amount of money sending bureaucrats , diplomats and ministers around the world to try and avoid an 'in danger ' listing . 'Now they want to bring journalists to Australia to reassure them everything is under control - it 's kind of missing the point . ' A spokesman for the DFAT told the Guardian diplomatic efforts , like the journalist junket , was needed to counter misinformation spread by conservationists about the reef . The reporters , who all hail from countries on the world heritage committee , are being flown to Queensland to see the reef and learn about the government 's conservation efforts . 'There is currently a campaign to list the Great Barrier Reef as in danger ... we think there are a number of assertions about the management of the Great Barrier Reef and its vulnerability which are not grounded in fact and which need to be rebutted , ' he said . The journalists from Germany , France , the Philippines , India , Japan and Portugal will meet with scientists , the chair of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and staff from the Environment Department . Environment Minister Greg Hunt stepped up the government 's campaign against an 'in danger ' listing last month arguing it is the 'best managed marine ecosystem in the world ' . The conservationists say they are worried the journalists will be spun misleading information and will seek to provide them another side of the story when they arrive . 'There 's lots of talk and money being spent but there 's no protection of the reef , ' Ms Wishart said . 'This is just a spin job to international journalists about the great things they are doing . ' Conservation groups have since hit out at the government saying it should spend less time showing off their efforts to journalists and more time protecting the reef .
Reporters given free week-long trip as part of government campaign to stop it being put on the United Nations 'in danger ' list . Foreign journalists will learn about government 's conservation efforts . Environment groups say money should be spent on protecting reef . Trip next week comes before June meeting where reef 's World Heritage status will be considered .