Election 2007
Cape York and Northern Australia
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The majestic Palm Cockatoos - only found on Cape York and Papua New Guinea - courtesy Cliff and Dawn Frith |
This Federal election The Wilderness Society has called on all political parties to support a long term conservation plan for Cape York and Northern Australia. Outlined below is the Wilderness Society’s policy agenda and the response of the political parties. Please consider Cape York’s future when you vote this election.
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York is one of the last great wild places on earth. On a damaged planet big, wild places are precious. Like the Congo, the Serengeti and the Amazon Cape York deserves high level protection.
We stand at a historic moment for Cape York. Support and leadership from the next Australian Government is essential if we are to ensure this global treasure is protected while developing economic opportunities for its people.
World Heritage protection will take time and needs to be informed by independent and credible scientific advice and by working with the local community. As well as being home to thousands of species of plants and animals, Cape York is also home to 20,000 Queenslanders who must have a direct role in its future protection.
The Wilderness Society policy agenda for Cape York
This election, The Wilderness Society is seeking the release of policies including;
• Endorsement of the Queensland government’s new vision which includes protection of Cape York’s wild rivers and world heritage values - Cape York Peninsula Heritage Act 2007,
• The preparation of a World Heritage nomination for sections of Cape York Peninsula in cooperation with the local community, traditional owners, conservation groups and the Queensland Government;
• The allocation of funding to voluntarily purchase land of outstanding natural and cultural value;
• The allocation of funding to support a environmental stewardship program for Indigenous and non Indigenous residents;
• Support for the development of sustainable tourism industry development.
The Parties’ Policies
Four political parties responded to the Wilderness Society’s request for policies on Cape York and World Heritage.
For over a decade, the Australian Labor Party, the Greens and the Democrats, particularly Queensland Senator Andrew Bartlett, have all been strong supporters of World Heritage protection of Cape York. In the past 11 years the Coalition government has consistently dragged its feet on delivering any positive conservation initiatives on Cape York. Belatedly it has adopted a minimalist approach.
In the crucial seat of Wentworth, the ALP candidate George Newhouse has been an outspoken advocate for protection of Cape York both within the party and publicly. The sitting member, Malcolm Turnbull from the Liberal Party was responsible for improving coalition policy.
Political party policies on Cape York and World Heritage
Coalition: A World Heritage nomination would only be pursued by the Australian Government following the inclusion of Cape York, or parts of the Cape in the National Heritage List, and after extensive consultation with the affected and interested parties, particularly the local community.
Australian Labor Party: The ALP will work with the Queensland Government and traditional owners to pursue World Heritage listing of appropriate areas on Cape York, recognising the importance of Commonwealth leadership and the consent of traditional owners.
Australian Democrats: The Democrats support progressing a World Heritage nomination of Cape York with the full engagement of Indigenous Traditional Owners, and immediate funding to properly employ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in land and sea management of National and Marine Parks and other protected areas across the Cape.
Greens: The Greens support World Heritage listing of Cape York within the next term of Government if supported by local communities and traditional owners, and employment opportunities for Indigenous owners are provided.
Northern Australia
The threats to the superlative environment of Northern Australia are mounting. In January 2007, Prime Minister John Howard announced he would appoint a high level taskforce, led by Senator Bill Heffernan, to explore the potential for the development of the land and water resources of northern Australia.
The Wilderness Society is opposed to this taskforce and is calling for an alternative approach that supports the conservation of northern Australia.
During this election campaign, The Wilderness Society has asked each of the political parties to outline their policies in respect to the protection of northern Australia.
Four political parties responded to this request and the results are outlined below.
The Greens and Democrats propose scrapping the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce. The Australian Labor Party proposes expanding the terms of reference of the Taskforce to consider more sustainable development opportunities and have pledged $140 million towards conservation on Aboriginal lands. The Coalition supports the taskforce.
Coalition: The Coalition created the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce in January 2007. The Coalition continues to support the Taskforce and if re-elected, a draft series of recommendations will be released by the end of 2007 and a final report will be released by 2009. The Taskforce is led by Liberal Party Senator, Bill Heffernan.
Australian Labor Party: Expand the terms of reference of the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce to include broader economic development opportunities for northern Australia beyond its current agricultural focus to create economic, social and environmental benefits for northern Australians.
Establish an Office of Northern Australia to provide high level advice to the Federal Minister for Regional Development on achieving sustainable development outcomes, and to provide environmental, economic and social policy expertise.
Invest $90 million over 5 years to train and employ up to additional 300 Indigenous rangers on Indigenous lands and waters and increase funding to a total of $50 million over 5 years to improve and expand the successful Indigenous Protected Areas Program.
Provide opportunities for Indigenous participation in fledging carbon markets by establishing the legal framework for creation of carbon credits from altered fire management and providing $10 million to build local capacity and partnerships.
The Greens: The Greens are opposed to the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce. Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has called for the Taskforce to be scrapped and has highlighted the global conservation importance of Northern Australia’s tropical savanna, the largest savanna region left in the world.
The Greens believe areas of conservation importance across should be first identified and then protected in consultation with traditional owners. Only after these steps should sustainable development opportunities are pursued.
The Democrats: The Democrats are opposed to the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce. A plan for Northern Australia should prevent the mistakes in land and water management and dispossession in the south from being repeated in the north.
The Democrats believe northern Australia offers great potential for creating new economic, environmental and social opportunities which must include strong participation and continuing control by Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in the region.
Take Action
Email the Federal Environment Minister, Malcolm Turnbull and the Shadow Environment Minister, Peter Garrett calling on them to protect Cape York’s World Heritage values
Authorised by Lyndon Schneiders, The Wilderness Society Inc, 57E Brisbane Street, Hobart 7000
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