Greens question Qld Government’s environmental aims

Original story by Bruce Atkinson, ABC News

The Greens say Queensland National Parks Minister Steve Dickson is misguided in his claims about the State Government’s environmental credentials.

Mr Dickson says the Queensland Government is protecting the environment as never before and in 30 years will be remembered as the “greenest” Australia has ever seen.

Queensland-based Greens Senator Larissa Waters says in just over a year in power, the State Government has done nothing but undermine environmental protection.

“I cannot fathom the fact that they think that they are protecting Queensland’s environment by removing protection for wild rivers, reducing protection for Queensland’s vegetation, ripping up our coastal protection planning policy,” she said.

“The list goes on and on. If they think that’s green and innovative then I’m afraid they’ve lost all sense of perspective.”

National parks

She has called on the State Government to rule out allowing resort hotels in national parks.

Mr Dickson is calling for expressions of interest to allow tourism operators to start new ventures in areas previously off limits.

Senator Waters is concerned it will further erode laws designed to protect national parks.

“What we’ve already seen is grazing being allowed in national parks,” she said.

“We’ve now got a review of national parks to see if actually we should resume logging in some of those areas, and now I’m worried we could see hotels inside national parks.”