A P&O cruiseship discharged 27,000 litres of waste water into the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the country's senate has been told.

A report by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) claimed the dumping of food waste and grey water occurred on 26 August from the 77,000-gt Pacific Explorer (built 1977), the Guardian said.

The senate hearing was told P&O reported the spill to AMSA, but the reef park authority was not informed until 4 September.