Labor’s Environment Spokesperson, Jackie Trad, has warned the LNP’s 2050 Reef Plan falls woefully short of addressing the key issues impacting on the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
Ms Trad said the plan was no more than a business-as-usual approach to tackling the urgent crisis facing Queensland’s greatest natural asset the Great Barrier Reef.
“This plan includes no additional money for the Reef, no new laws to protect the Reef’s precious eco system and no review of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to ensure approvals are independent and based on the best scientific evidence,” Ms Trad said.
“The combined State and Commonwealth allocation to the Reef is $180 million which is significantly less than the $8.9Billion in Federal funding alone allocated to Murray-Darling Basin programs over the next decade.
“This plan pays mere lip-service to the key issue of climate change and its impact on the Reef, which is unsurprising considering Queensland’s Environment Minister (member for Glass House Andrew Powell) has admitted to being a climate change sceptic and Tony Abbott thinks climate change is ‘crap’.”
Ms Trad said the LNP’s plan is no more than a cosmetic response to the significant concerns raised by UNESCO.
“Queensland Labor believes the long-term health of the Reef depends on short, medium and long-term priorities including immediate action to:
- Have the Abbott Government reinstate the $10 million to Reef protection agencies it cut.
- Reinstate vegetation and costal protection laws axed by the Newman Government.
- Stop the handing over of all environmental approval powers to the Newman Government, who have proven themselves to be even worse for the environment than Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
- Ensure the Queensland and Federal Governments taking seriously their responsibility to tackle Climate Change.
“The Reef is a national icon and I think most Australians don’t trust the Newman Government with complete and unchecked power over its future.”
Sunshine Coast citizens concerned about our state’s environment can speak with Jackie Trad in person on Saturday, September 27 when the Sunshine Coast Hinterland branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) holds a community meeting to discuss the appalling environmental record of Campbell Newman’s LNP state government and some of the specific issues affecting our local district.
Other speakers on the day include Paul Donatiu from the National Parks Association of Queensland, Narelle McCarthy from the Sunshine Coast Environment Council and Brent Hampstead the ALP candidate for the state seat of Glass House.
Glass House ALP Community Meeting
Maleny Neighbourhood Centre, Bicentenary Lane, Maleny
Saturday, September 27, 2pm
All welcome – Free entry – Free afternoon tea provided after meeting