The Great Barrier Reef is at risk unless nature law reforms close long-standing deforestation loopholes, warns a prominent economist and environmentalist.

Former Treasury secretary Ken Henry says there is a "strong case" for overhauling federal environmental protections to eliminate flaws that allow widespread clearing of native vegetation.

"Neither the present laws, nor the proposed reforms, provide the Australian government with the ability to act to protect the reef from irresponsible clearing, due to a 25-year-old loophole," the chair of the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation will tell a Brisbane audience.

Dr Henry is also sceptical of the "national interest" override but is otherwise in favour of the reform direction and says change is urgently needed to protect nature

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