Hello… green policies? Gillard, Abbott Missing-In-Action on nature conservation

The Wilderness Society
Media Release
3 August 2010

The Wilderness Society has criticized both Labor and the Coalition for failing to present clear, positive policies to protect our native forests, our unique natural ecosystems and marine environments, and iconic places like the Kimberley and Cape York.

The Wilderness Society today released its Federal Environment Policy Priorities for 2010 and has approached all the major parties for responses as part of assessing their positions and policies.  The headline areas requiring clear policy commitments in the lead up to the August 21 poll are:

• Protecting the forests and woodlands of Southern Australia
• Safeguarding our marine environment
• Conserving Northern Australia
• Developing Indigenous Conservation opportunities
• Managing Rivers and Water
• Securing nature’s carbon stores
• Stopping uranium mining

"We will be grading the parties on their current stance and seeking strong, positive commitments to protect the environment, but so far there's not been much to choose between the Coalition and Labor when it comes to conservation issues," said Dr Tim Seelig, Queensland Campaigns Manager and spokesperson for the Wilderness Society.

"The Australian environment already looks to have been dudded by the two biggest parties on climate change policy, and neither of them has committed to protecting nature and wildlife."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott yesterday announced that a future Liberal-National Government would tear up laws protecting Queensland’s pristine rivers.  He has also indicated that he won’t support extending marine sanctuaries. Both positions would take environmental protection backwards.

"That’s two very bad marks for the Coalition. We need to hear a more positive plan from Mr Abbott and his environment spokesperson Greg Hunt about a range of other conservation policies." 

"Meanwhile Labor has been completely silent on protecting Australia’s unique environment and wildlife. So far Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott are both Missing-In-Action when it comes to positive conservation platforms."

Many pundits are predicting that Greens Party preferences will be crucial in deciding a number of marginal seats in the Federal Election.  The Wilderness Society, which is non-aligned politically, plans to widely promote its assessment of the parties and their conservation policies, as a way of informing its 50,000 members and the broader public of the choices before them.

"Our message to Australians is 'this is your environment, your future, and your vote'. It’s important we all know where the main parties stand on the big conservation priorities, so we know what we’re voting for on the 21st  August," concluded Dr Seelig.

View the Wilderness Society's Federal Environment Policy Priorities for 2010 (922Kb PDF)