The Wilderness Society congratulates Bligh, condemns Springborg on environment

The Wilderness Society (Queensland) Inc
Media Release
15 March 2009

Leading conservation group The Wilderness Society today congratulated the Premier for her announcements on Cape York World Heritage, wild rivers protection, and land clearing. At the same time, the Society condemned LNP leader for his lack of vision and commitment on the environment.

At Labor’s formal election launch today, Premier Anna Bligh announced that if re-elected, would government would protect three key river systems in Western Queensland’s channel country.

“The commitment to provide permanent protection to Cooper Creek, and the Georgina and Diamantina Rivers is great news for conservationists, graziers and landholders”,  said Dr Tim Seelig, Queensland Campaign Manager.

The Premier has said there would be a three month stay on regrowth land clearing while the question of further protections for sensitive and endangered bushland was examined, and Labor has also announced that it would move forwards on the nomination of Cape York as a World Heritage area.

“Anna Bligh has shown her environmental leadership and vision on some of the most important conservation issues in Queensland.  We are delighted that Labor has recognised the importance of the environment in this election”, Dr Seelig stated.   “This is in stark contrast to Liberal National Party, which has shown contempt for many of these same issues”.

During the election campaign, Lawrence Springborg failed to announce any positive measures on land clearing, protecting Queensland’s Wild Rivers, or on Cape York.   The Wilderness Society believes Mr Springborg is deliberately avoiding making comments on a range of environmental and conservation policies in an attempt at papering over differences within the LNP on key issues, and hiding past comments and positions.

“Lawrence Springborg and the LNP have shown absolutely no interest in revealing their environmental policies and discussing plans to protect Queensland’s precious and unique natural environment”,  Dr Seelig commented.

“We have written to the LNP seeking an indication of what their policies are on a range of issues.   We have not had any reply, and are still in the dark about their plans. This leaves us suspecting that there is a hidden agenda here. “

Announcing the release of The Wilderness Society’s assessments of the policies of the main parties, Dr Seelig said that in summary The Greens have made very strong promises on the environment, and Labor has a ‘good’ commitment to addressing some of the Society’s priority issues.   The LNP were simply missing in action, but its leaders have a poor track record on many of the issue of concern.

“Queenslanders are entitled to know what all the main parties are planning to do on the environment, so they can make an informed choice on their next government”, he said.