Tony Abbott's Wild Rivers stunt

Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
08/02/2010
Tony Abbott''s Wild Rivers stunt

Tony Abbott''s attempt to overthrow Queensland''s 2005 Wild Rivers Act is clearly a political stunt and it demonstrates his inability to balance environmental needs and economic development, Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

"When Tony Abbot sat around the cabinet table in 2004, he would have put up his hand to endorse the Howard Government''s ''celebrated'' National Water Initiative requiring all states and territories to identify and protect high conservation water systems for their ecological values," Mr Robertson said.

"Queensland''s 2005 Wild Rivers Act, which was supported by the Liberal and National parties, gives expression to that requirement protecting the conservation and ecological value of some of Australia''s last remaining pristine rivers."

"Every year we publicly announce what rivers we intend to declare as Wild Rivers and we are always open and transparent with that," he said.

Mr Robertson said Queensland''s Wild Rivers Act was a visionary approach to protecting some of Australia''s most ecologically healthy river systems.

"There are few countries in the world that can boast having rivers in such naturally, pristine condition," he said.

"The Queensland Government''s over-arching intent is to ensure that any new development within a wild river basin does not detrimentally impact on those natural values that make these rivers so special.

"Does that mean opportunities for job creation in indigenous communities grind to a halt as has been alleged? The answer is an emphatic no.

"It is important to point out that Tony Abbott misleads us by conveniently ignoring the fact that it is not just the Queensland Government that has passed laws to strike a balance between the environment and development rights in Australia.

"Even if Abbott succeeded in his challenge to Queensland''s Wild Rivers Act, the Commonwealth''s Environmental Protection, Biodiversity and Conservation (EPBC) Act would still exist and, in the absence of state legislation, would have a significant influence on how and what development could take place in Cape York."

"That''s the same EPBC Act that Tony Abbott would have also supported around the cabinet table and in parliament as a Minister in the former Howard Government."

Mr Robertson said an informed debate encouraging improvements in indigenous health, education, and employment and business opportunities on Cape York was always welcome.

"It is disappointing that so much debate over the past months, including Tony Abbott''s recent outbursts, has clearly not been informed by an accurate reading of the Wild Rivers Act and the detailed declarations that are publicly available and easily accessible.

"Any reasonable consideration of these documents reveals that development projects are in fact encouraged, providing the rivers are not unduly impacted upon. "

Activities such as mining, grazing, fishing, eco-tourism, outstation development and indigenous cultural activities can all still occur and the published declarations explain how and where such work can occur.

However, developments such as intensive agriculture, animal husbandry, in-stream dams and weirs, surface mining, and aquaculture are restricted in the most sensitive areas.

"But even these activities can receive approval if a suitable development plan, which puts appropriate environmental safeguards in place, is prepared," Mr Robertson said.

"Surely, in such ecologically sensitive areas, this kind of case by case approach to development assessment is not too much to ask."

The Wild Rivers Act also ensures traditional indigenous activities such as hunting and fishing can still occur and native title rights are also protected and respected.

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Publish Date: 09 Feb 10