Pearson’s anti Cape York conservation campaign reaches new low

The Wilderness Society (QLD) Inc
Media Release
7 June 2009

The Wilderness Society today accused Noel Pearson of reaching a new low in his misinformation campaign against conservation initiatives on Cape York Peninsula.

In yesterday’s edition of the Weekend Australian, Mr Pearson claimed wild river protections and a future World Heritage listing for Cape York will be a prelude to the banning of hunting and fishing across the Peninsula.  He challenged anyone to "Tell me one World Heritage Area where fishing and hunting are allowed".

In response, The Wilderness Society can immediately name at least three such Australian examples, two of which are in close proximity to Cairns, where Mr Pearson lives. The Management Plan for the Kakadu World Heritage Areas permits traditional hunting and fishing, as does the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) World Heritage Area and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in Far North Queensland.  The GBR alone generates some 54,000 jobs and over $5 billion a year, also highlighting the role that World Heritage based tourism can play in local and national economies.

Dr Tim Seelig, Queensland Campaign Manager for the Wilderness Society said: “Yet again we see Mr Pearson creating false impressions and spreading misinformation about conservation initiatives on Cape York. Such ill-informed commentary appears designed to deliberately stoke community fears, and ultimately frustrate the many constructive opportunities to protect the natural and cultural values of Cape York while also creating sustainable employment and economic opportunities”.

“The Wilderness Society believes it is time Mr Pearson finally revealed the real reasons he seems to oppose sensible conservation on Cape York, what development projects he is backing, and who is funding his campaign.”

Yesterday’s claim was the latest in a three year campaign led by Noel Pearson, supported by brother Gerhardt and uncritically reported by journalist Tony Koch in The Australian, against initiatives to protect the unique natural and cultural values of Cape York. This campaign has included numerous inaccuracies and misrepresentations about the Queensland Government’s wild rivers initiative, laws to control land clearing, and what a future World Heritage listing for the region might entail.

Just a few days ago, Mr Koch ran a preposterous story in The Australian implying that wild river laws might impact on a flower business in the Endeavour River area of Cape York, when this river basin was never included in the protection list, and existing enterprises are clearly exempt from the laws anyway.