Environment Minister Greg Hunt says more than a quarter of Labor's pledge towards the Great Barrier Reef will be squandered on bureaucracy.
The Liberal frontbencher told reporters in Sydney that $100 million of the $377 million promised by Labor would be set aside "for more bureaucracy" instead of frontline services.
"That seems like an incredible wasted opportunity," Mr Hunt said on Monday.
Mr Hunt also said Labor would have to cut $123 million from an existing reef program as part of their pledge.
"We'd like to know which reef program, whether it's gully protection, wetlands conservation, what it is they're axing," he said.
Labor's cash injection will go to improving water quality, streamlining management and science, according to the party.
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Both the Coalition and Labor admit saving the Great Barrier Reef from devastating bleaching will require action on climate change.
Their leaders turned their campaign focus to protecting the environmental icon on Monday, with Labor pledging $377 million in new funding for research and management.
The coalition promised $6 million for another boat to cull crown of thorns starfish.
Labor's cash injection will go to improving water quality, streamlining management and science, including a $50 million boost for the CSIRO to carry out marine research.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was in Cairns to reveal the funds - most of which will go to reducing nutrient run-off from agriculture - warning the reef is at risk of being irreparably damaged.
"The reef is in peril," he told reporters.
"If we do not act, our children will rightly ask us why didn't we."
Recent mass bleaching has killed off up to half of the northern part of the reef, an event scientists strongly link to global warming.
Labor's new funding adds to the $123 million already pledged by the coalition.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull defended his government's record on the reef, insisting the coalition was "doing a good job".
But he agrees global warming poses a threat to mass bleaching.
"Plainly ... that requires a global solution," he told reporters in Sydney, pointing to last year's global United Nations climate change agreement to limit global warming to two degrees.
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The policy focus came after the environment department intervened to prevent the reef being listed in a United Nation's agency report detailing the risks of climate change on world heritage sites.
The department maintains the report could have had a negative impact on tourism but environment groups say the intervention amounts to government censorship.
The UN world heritage committee last year decided against listing the reef on its in-danger list, pledging to closely monitor its progress until next year.
Mr Shorten accused Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of sticking his head in the sand when it came to the reef.
"This is a government who doesn't want to hear the problem, they want to stop anyone else talking about the issue."
The reef is the world's largest coral system and associated activity is estimated to generate revenues of $6 billion each year while employing 70,000 people.
Environment groups have criticised Labor's plan for not including a cap on farm pollution.
But environment spokesman Mark Butler hasn't ruled out a market-based cap and trade system, but wants to explore the cost.
Labor's plan
* $50 million for CSIRO Marine for reef specific research.
* $50 million for reef research through universities.
* $300 million investment in improving water quality, reducing sediment run-off.
Coalition plan
* Boost from one to three the number of boats culling crown of thorns starfish.
* $100 million to bring all reef management bodies together.
