Abbott's Bill up the creek without a paddle

The healthy rivers of Cape York upderpin the local economy (Eliot Falls). Photo: Glenn Walker

After thousands of emails from our supporters, and two failed attempts by Tony Abbott to ram it through the Senate, the anti-wild rivers legislation finally looks doomed to failure.

The Bill was debated at length in the Senate on two separate occasions, and the Coalition had planned to force the Bill to a vote on 12 May.

However, at the eleventh hour, Senator Fielding indicated he wouldn’t be supporting the proposed legislation. To avoid embarrassment, Abbott’s cadre of Coalition Senators decided not to proceed with the vote as originally intended.

"This is a great day for Queensland's spectacular wild rivers, and for the many traditional owners who support the laws and support the protection of wild rivers", said Lyndon Schneiders, National Campaign Director for the Wilderness Society.

Family First Senator Steve Fielding is to be congratulated for putting vital environmental protection ahead of mining interests by voting against Tony Abbott's anti-Wild Rivers Bill in the Senate.

Misinformation campaign failed

With the vote postponed, the Abbott Bill has now effectively failed. This is a huge blow to the Leader of the Opposition's credibility, to his authority in Parliament and to his crusade to overturn Wild Rivers in Queensland.

Despite repeated attempts by many Coalition Senators to muddy the waters in this divisive debate, a Wild Rivers declaration does not stop development or indigenous communities desire for economic development.

A wide range of sustainable activities can take place including cattle grazing, cultural and recreational uses, building community infrastructure and the construction of roads and fences are all possible.

And crucially, the Wild Rivers Act explicitly doesn’t affect Native Title, and the ownership or tenure of lands are not affected. It is a light-touch environmental regulation designed to avoid the past mistakes made in so many of our river systems.

Thank you to the thousands of supporters who have sent emails and contacted politicians during this campaign. Abbott’s Bill isn’t completely finished, but this second failure in the Senate means we have put a big hole into an already leaky piece of legislation.