Beattie's historic pledge to control land clearing shows the way to a sustainable future
27 Nov 2003
Conservation groups have hailed today's pledge by Premier Peter Beattie to pass new laws to control land clearing as an historic turning point for the protection of Australia's environment.
In Parliament today, the Premier clearly committed to the path of ending broadscale clearing of remnant bushland in Queensland.
'Future generations of Queenslanders, indeed Australians, will be grateful for this far sighted decision' said Felicity Wishart, the Coordinator of the Queensland Conservation Council.
'Just this week, 420 eminent scientists released the 'Brigalow Declaration', an open letter spelling out the need to solve the land clearing problem in Queensland. Today's announcement is based firmly on strong scientific evidence' followed Don Henry, Executive Director of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
'Land clearing is consistently identified as the single biggest threat to Australia's natural environment and controlling it is crucial to protect our rivers, farms and wildlife' said David Butcher, CEO of WWF-Australia.
'This visionary decision will prevent future Queenslanders from inheriting a huge bill for land and water repair' said Barry Traill, Woodlands Ecologist with The Wilderness Society.
For further information contact:
David Butcher, WWF-Australia 0415 865 992
Dr Barry Traill, The Wilderness Society 0427 261 885 or 07 3846 1420
Felicity Wishart, Qld Conservation Council 07 3221 0188 or 0419 664 503
Don Henry, Australian Conservation Foundation 0418 501 395
