Inquiry into QLD Wild Rivers legislation welcomed

Media Release
Thursday, 30 September 2010

Julia Gillard’s call for a parliamentary inquiry into the Queensland Wild Rivers legislation has been broadly welcomed by the Wilderness Society.

“We’re confident that any inquiry into the Wild Rivers legislation will promote the fact that this legislation works, has the support of many traditional owners, supports sustainable economic development by indigenous landowners, and will stand up to any scrutiny it is put under,” said Dr Tim Seelig, Wilderness Society Queensland Campaign Manager.

Tony Abbott has indicated he will now be introducing a private member’s bill in several weeks’ time.

‘In wishing to overturn Queensland’s Wild Rivers laws, Tony Abbott actions are simply about giving free-rein to miners and other big industry to over-develop sensitive environmental regions,” Dr Seelig added. 

“The proposed Bauxite Mine in the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve beside the Wenlock River is a good example of an unsustainable and environmentally damaging project that the legislation currently limits.”

The Wild Rivers legislation stops larger-scale, damaging activities such as mining, dams and intensive irrigation in healthy rivers and wetlands, but allows sustainable development, along with a wide range of other traditional and recreational river and water uses.

Ten spectacular river systems – in Gulf of Carpentaria Land, Cape York, and Fraser/Hinchinbrook Islands - are already regulated under the Wild Rivers Act. Three rivers in Western Queensland’s channel country are also being proposed for Wild Rivers protection.