| Coral Sea Heritage Park proclamation blocked in Senate. |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Admin | |||
| Friday, 21 August 2009 06:15 | |||
|
The Coral Sea Access Alliance supports Senator Boswell’s disallowance motion lodged in the Senate on the 19th August on the Coral Sea Heritage Park. Alliance Chairman, Wayne Bayne, said that by moving the disallowance in the Senate Queenslanders will be given the opportunity to look at the whole process and its ramifications rationally rather than be subjected to the political ram raid that seems to have dominated the process so far. Minister Garrett announced the introduction of the Heritage Park on the 14th May with out any public consultation and without consideration for the impact it would have on regional communities or industry. To further demonstrate his total disregard for the opinions of the affected regional communities he chose to make the announcement in Sydney. The public meeting held in Croswell Hall on the 29th April and the resulting petition that attracted over 2000 signatures was presented to federal Parliament by local federal member for Leichardt Jim Turnour. Apparently the opinions of these Queenslanders who took the trouble to register their opinion and the countless others who support their position are of little concern to Minister Garrett or his department. Recreational fishers, the commercial and charter fishing industry along with many other sectors of the public are sick and tired of Government’s policy of restricting activities and access as one of the few methods of achieving environmental protection. Mr Bayne encouraged Queenslanders to become involved in promoting practical environmental initiatives and not allow voluble minority self interest groups or extreme American lobby groups to determine Australian Government policy. The time has come for meaningful community consultation not the token bureaucratic exercise that has been the hall mark of this process so far. Mr Bayne expressed confidence in Senator Boswell’s initiative which should be successful, allowing the whole process to be looked at rationally for the good of the environment, regional communities and their economies. NOTE – Mr. BAYNE is AVAILABLE for INTERVIEW – Please telephone – (07) 40 513512 or 0407 513512.
|
