|
|
Print this Article
Long-awaited report into northern Australia declared a missed opportunity
09-February-2010
The Rudd Government has squandered an opportunity to take any real productive steps towards harnessing the agricultural potential of Northern Australia.
Instead of a vital document with a clear plan for the future, the long-awaited Northern Australian Land and Water Taskforce Report turned out to be “a fizzer”.
The Federal Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley said: “People across Australia will be disappointed with this lost opportunity.
“Like Northern Australians, farmers everywhere were hoping to see the enormous potential up north finally unlocked with a practical plan to move forward.
“What they have got instead is a series of motherhood statements and bureaucratic recommendations calling for more reports, more committees, and more analysis.
“Clearly, the changes Labor made when they came into office, gave the Taskforce a far less practical focus, and the result is little more than a radical environmental blueprint to lock up Northern Australia.
“It is ridiculous that Northern Australia—which has two thirds of Australia’s water—is being described as not having enough water to grow food. The cyclones we have seen in the north lately are perfect examples of rainfall we need to harness for agricultural development.
“The Queensland Government, supported by Mr Rudd, seems intent on locking up the wild rivers of the north and thereby ensuring that local indigenous people never achieve a real place in the real economy.
“No wonder the government appointees on this Taskforce came up with such a timid, bureaucratic document.
“Imagine how our early pioneers would have responded to government directions that they could not head west and develop new areas for farming to support a growing population.
“In embracing Northern Australia, we should certainly not turn out backs on the Murray Darling Basin and the important and ongoing contribution it makes to Australia’s agricultural production, but it is crazy to further stress our southern catchments when there is huge potential for development in the north.”
“The report is light-weight. It offers no plan of action whatsoever. Instead it focuses on the hurdles to development of the north instead of any plan on how to overcome them.”
-ends-
______________________________________________________________________________
Media contact: Debbie Brown 02 60213264 – 0428 297699