Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged $1 billion over the next nine years towards the Great Barrier Reef if elected, after successfully campaigning UNESCO to delay a decision to list the World Heritage site as “in danger” six months ago. The announcement comes three weeks after Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said he would inject $163 million over four years into protecting the natural wonder. The Great Barrier Reef, which contributes around $6.4 billion in value, and over 64,000 jobs, to the Australian economy per year, has been considered a key election issue in the Far North Queensland electorates of Leichhardt, Capricornia, Flynn, and Herbert. The funding boost comes on top of the $2 billion previously given under the Reef 2050 plan, which was released by the federal and Queensland state governments to enhance the reef’s sustainability over the next three decades. It comes six months after UNESCO’s China-chaired World Heritage Committee proposed to list the Great Barrier …