Labor zeros in on reef funding injection

Labor senator Kristina Keneally is pursuing the Turnbull government over a $444 million grant awarded to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Labor Senator Kristina Keneally wants answers on the government's funding of a Barrier Reef body. (AAP)

A half-billion dollar grant awarded to a small Great Barrier Reef charity is bound to dominate debate when federal politicians return to work after their winter break.

Labor senator Kristina Keneally is leading the charge against the Turnbull government over the "curious" $444 million taxpayer-funded funding injection to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Senator Keneally said the grant was handed over in a mad rush earlier this year without a tender process.

"This is a strange way to administer public money," she told Sky News on Sunday.

"You would think there'd be some robust process behind it."

Senator Keneally signalled the opposition would continue to probe the issue when parliament resumes on Monday.

"Labor will continue to pursue this through the (ongoing) Senate inquiry and every other avenue available to the opposition," she said.