Bligh’s protected bureaucrats fail endangered species

2 November 2009   Bligh’s protected bureaucrats fail endangered species

PREMIER Bligh and Labor are only paying lip service to environmental protection by employing more bureaucrats than rangers.

Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Glen Elmes MP accused Premier Bligh of being more concerned with bureaucratic process than protecting endangered species in Far North Queensland.

“In 2008-2009 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employed an additional 72 administrative staff while ranger and technical staff numbers actually decreased,” said Mr Elmes.

“There is only one ranger to police 240,000 hectares of land and 29km of coastline where endangered dugongs and turtles are being killed by poachers.

“What chance have they got?

“Bureaucrats polishing chairs in offices while filling out reports and forms are no substitute for rangers on the ground when you are serious about protecting our vulnerable environment.”

Mr Elmes said he supported the Australian Workers Union when it claimed on October 29 that the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service was chronically under-resourced.

“The EPA Annual Report for the period 1 July 2008 to 26 March 2009 tells the truth about Bligh and Labor’s preference for process over outcome,” he said.

“While administrative staff numbers rose from 929 to 1001 in the period, technical staff numbers fell from 82 to 78 and ranger numbers decreased from 82 to 78.

“Under Bligh and Labor bureaucrats receive greater protection than Queensland’s endangered native species.”