Australian Marine Conservation Society

Queensland political parties must act on climate, water, biodiversity and community futures

In a joint statement, environment groups, including the Australian Marine Conservation Society, have called upon all major political parties in Queensland to recognise the big picture environment issues.

The groups have challenged the major parties to provide leadership in four key areas; climate change, healthy rivers and water supply, nature conservation and community future-proofing.

"A healthy economy and society needs a healthy environment. We need our political leaders to have the vision, commitment and the leadership skills to recognise this," said Toby Hutcheon, Executive Director of Queensland Conservation (QCC).

Based around the four themes of climate, water, biodiversity and community, the statement includes:

A Clean Energy Plan with mandatory schemes for wind (15%) solar (15%) and geothermal (10%) energy by 2020;
A ban on all proposed major dams
A cut in Reef pollution by 50% by 2013
$100 M for biodiversity protection under climate change
A Sustainable Population Strategy for Queensland

"There has never been a more important time to act. Climate change is upon us; it threatens our environment, our resources and, as the last months have shown, the very safety of our communities," said Hutcheon.

"Nature cannot adapt to the speed of climate changes, so it is imperative that government provide full protection and adequate funding to support the resilience of the Queensland environment," said Hutcheon.

The environment groups have provided a set of questions to each political party to assess their response to this statement. A score card will be published prior to the election date.

For More Information:

Toby Hutcheon (QCC) 07 3221 0188
Craig Bohm (Australian Marine Conservation Society) ? 07 3393 5811
Don Henry (ACF)
Tim Seelig (Wilderness Society)
Nick Heath (WWF)
Aila Keto (Australian Rainforest Conservation Society)
Des Boyland (WPSQ)
Paul Donatiu (National Parks Association Queensland)

Environment Groups Queensland Election Priorities

Urgently Act to achieve a Safe Climate

Sustain Healthy River Systems

Protect and Restore Nature on Land and Sea

Plan a Liveable Community Future

Urgently Act to achieve a safe climate

1. Build a Clean Energy Future in Queensland. Introduce a Queensland Renewable Energy Plan which includes mandatory minimum targets for the uptake of wind (15%), solar (15%), and geothermal (10%) energy by 2020
Introduce a Queensland Energy Efficiency Plan aimed at a 30% savings in energy consumption from households and industry by 2020.The plan must include new minimum building standards for residential (7 star) and commercial (5 star AGBR) buildings.

Introduce a legislated ban on uranium mining in Queensland.

2. Urgently reduce the State contribution to global and national ghg emissions. Develop a Climate Neutral Standard for all major developments which includes coal mines and coal-fired power stations.

3. Make our Communities Climate Safe. Develop and fund a Climate Safe Communities Commission that identifies climate affected regions, puts in place prohibitions and adaptation funding and provides additional specialist support for emergency services.

Sustain Healthy River Systems

4. Cancel all major proposed dams and weirs. There are currently, at least, 12 proposals for major dams, weirs and dam extensions on the books in Queensland.

5. Introduce Sustainable Water Supply Strategies for all major urban centres. Regional water supply strategies must be introduced in the next term of Parliament and be required to meet sustainable carrying capacities.

6. Fully protect Queensland?s Wild Rivers. Following extensive consultation, commit to declaring Cape York?s identified wild rivers by 2010, and commit to protecting new wild river basins elsewhere in Queensland.

Protect and restore nature on land and sea

7. Cut Reef pollution 50% by 2013. Introduce new land use regulations, better coordination, a Reef Report Card, Reef Catchments Commission and strong implementation of the leasehold land strategy.

8. $100 M for Biodiversity under Climate Change by 2014. Expand national parks to 15%, complete the state forest conversion process, introduce State World Heritage legislation and commit to declaring a network of marine parks (with the Gulf of Carpentaria a priority by 2014).

The Gulf Marine Park system must provide a minimum of 30% protection of each habitat type in marine national park zones and resourced to permit structural adjustment assistance to be provided to industry and for ongoing park management. Central to this platform is an indigenous or ?local? rangers program to bring further green jobs to remote Cape York communities.

This commitment would complement Labor?s long standing commitment to establishing border-to-border marine parks around Queensland?s coast and commitment to secure more jobs during these economically trying times.

9. Strengthen the Vegetation Management Act. Remove the exemptions and implement provisions to prevent clearing and logging of remnant and regrowth of high value for soil, water and biodiversity conservation, and introduce bio-carbon incentives for protecting other vegetation.

10. World Heritage for Cape York. Conclude a full consultation process for a Cape York World Heritage nomination with the consent of Traditional Owners by the end of 2010, and commit to undertake the work necessary within the next term of government to enable a World Heritage nomination for Cape York by 2013.

Plan a liveable community future

11. A Sustainable Population Strategy. Commit to developing a Sustainable Population Strategy for Queensland, which stabilises Queensland?s population to an ecologically sustainable level.

12. IPA/Regional Plans must meet sustainability criteria. Amend IPA and ensure that it, and all regional development plans require assessment of carrying capacity, resource and population limits based upon agreed sustainability indicators.