QRC CEO Michael Roche said Branson had the bare-faced hide to claim that an in-danger listing would be a good thing for the reef.

“We will be sending Mr Branson the risk assessment prepared for QRC that demonstrated the magnitude of harmful impacts of an in-danger listing on the Queensland and Australian economies and particularly on industries such as tourism, fishing and agriculture,” Roche said.

“Mr Branson is happy to make profits from the Queensland economy, from flying mining workforces around the state and carrying tourists to see our wonderful natural beauty. Why then does he think it is okay to sabotage our economy with his irresponsible declarations?”

Branson’s comment that the reef was an industrial dumping ground, in reference to claims of dredged material dumping, was ridiculed by Roche.

“Under which rock has Mr Branson been hiding? Has he not been briefed on the decisive action of the Australian and Queensland governments to ban disposal of capital dredge material at sea? Has he not been briefed on the restrictions on capital dredging to just four existing priority ports? Has he not been briefed on the world-leading REEFVTS real time vessel tracking system that ensures shipping in the reef is safe?” he said.

“Has he not been briefed on the $2 billion investment by governments in reef protection? Has he not been briefed on the huge additional investment by industry in reef research and conservation programs?

“The largest dredging program in Queensland in recent memory was for the project to build Brisbane’s second runway so Mr Branson’s carbon emissions' belching planes can land at Brisbane airport in increasing numbers. That project dwarfs any other proposed dredging program in Queensland.”

The QRC chief then took the war of words closer to Branson’s Caribbean home which is near the world heritage Barrier Reef of Belize.

“I await Mr Branson’s public statement of concern about the reported opening up of offshore drilling in the vicinity of the Belize reef,” Roche said.

A spokeswoman for Branson had since revealed that the business figure would be meeting with Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt in the coming days and that Branson was “greatly heartened” by the government’s efforts to address the reef’s challenges.

Branson has also admitted he did not have the full picture before making his Great Barrier Reef claims in a statement supporting advocacy group 1 Million-Women’s efforts to get a “World Heritage in Danger” listing for the Great Barrier Reef.

Tourism groups have also been critical of Branson’s statement.