Pearson's mining stance a danger to Cape York rivers and wetlands

The Wilderness Society (QLD) Inc
Media Release
15 January 2010

The Wilderness Society today criticized the stance of Noel Pearson on both mining and rivers protection, highlighting his comments in The Australian newspaper yesterday that mining should be allowed in Wild River areas.

Glenn Walker, Wild Rivers Campaigner for The Wilderness Society said: “Mr Pearson’s apparent stance on open-slather mining is deeply troubling. Cape York’s rivers and wetlands, some of the healthiest remaining on the planet, are highly sensitive to destructive development.”

"It is profoundly irresponsible of Mr Pearson to support this sort of development over the protection of our national heritage, thereby frustrating genuinely sustainable ecological development."

Mr Pearson has enlisted the support of Liberal Leader Tony Abbott and outspoken National Party Senator Barnaby Joyce in his campaign to overturn Queensland’s groundbreaking Wild Rivers legislation. Mr Abbott says he will be introducing a private members bill in the Australian Parliament in February in an attempt to overturn the state laws.  The Wilderness Society maintains that the Wild Rivers legislation is sensible, balanced, and necessary to prevent overdevelopment in the globally important river systems of Queensland.

"Currently, the spectacular Aurukun wetlands on Cape York are protected from damaging, sand strip mining thanks to the Archer Basin Wild River declaration. If the declaration was revoked as Mr Pearson and Mr Abbott are advocating, this stunning natural and cultural jewel - five times the size of the famed Kakadu wetlands - would once again be opened up to mining exploitation" said Mr Walker.

"Similarly, Wild Rivers legislation provides the best chance to prevent bauxite mining damaging the Wenlock River and a set of unique freshwater springs on the Steve Irwin Nature Reserve. Without Wild River protection such areas may be openly exploited by mining companies."

The Wilderness Society is calling on Mr Pearson to drop his apparent open-slather mining stance, and focus instead on opportunities to create jobs and generate income in Indigenous communities on Cape York sustainably. 

The Wilderness Society also today welcomed support for Queensland’s Wild Rivers laws from several prominent Traditional Owners from Cape York who spoke out yesterday on Queensland radio stations.