One critical factor perhaps not acknowledged in the media so far is the weak
commitment to protected areas in Queensland compared to the rest of Australia
(and the rest of the world), especially National Parks. Less than 5% of Qld has
been designated National Park, much less than in all other states and compared
with SA, Victoria, WA and Tasmania a pathetic commitment (all those states have
two or three or four times the percent under National Parks). The Australian
total is 12% and our target (under the Convention on Biodiversity) is 17% by
2020. Even under Labor Queensland was only targeting 7% by 2020 (no show of
getting that under the present Government). These protected areas are for the
principal purpose of biodiversity, including of course the birds to which we
are all committed. To argue that the needs of a few families of graziers come
ahead of the biodiversity commitment is ludicrous. As noted already, graziers
have options; the Queensland Government could fund shi
pping for agistment and importing hay. Surely the solution to the cattle
problem (misleadingly categorised as an animal welfare problem) can be found on
the other 95% of Queensland that is not National Park? Of course it can.
Peter Valentine
0427 634 136
On 16/05/2013, at 9:41 PM, Laurie Knight <>
wrote:
> Hopefully a key difference from the usual grazing management system is that
> they wouldn't be shooting the roos to reduce the competition for pasture in
> the parks ...
>
> On 16/05/2013, at 7:13 PM, Merrilyn Serong wrote:
>
>> I wonder why there is food for cattle in national parks, but not on farms.
>> Does this mean the farms are overstocked?
>> If they graze in national parks, what happens when they have eaten all the
>> available food there?
>> No cattle as well as no national parks?
>> Merrilyn
>>
>> On 16/05/2013 1:34 PM, robert morris wrote:
>>> The Federal Government has over-ruled the Qld Government to prevent grazing
>>> in National Parks. One small win? Now I have sympathy for the drought
>>> stricken farmers, but grazing the national parks is just not right!
>>>
>>> Burke rejects allowing national parks cattle grazing
>>> The Queensland Government has accused the Federal Government of stirring up
>>> the biggest animals rights issue in Australia by rejecting its proposal to
>>> allow starving cattle to graze on conservation reserves and national parks.
>>> With a third of Queensland now drought-affected, Queensland National Parks
>>> Minister Steve Dickson says he will keep lobbying federal Environment
>>> Minister Tony Burke to change his mind.
>>>
>>> "What we're here today to do is get starving cattle to eat food rather than
>>> dropping dead in paddocks - they're the options we have - let them die in
>>> the paddock or do something about it," he said.
>>>
>>> "I'm sure Mr Burke will see the common sense in that."
>>>
>>> Mr Dickson says the Federal Government risks an animals rights disaster,
>>> with 25,000 animals that may die from starvation.
>>>
>>> "I don't know why anybody would want to get in the way of stopping cattle
>>> staying alive," he said.
>>>
>>> "You look at what happened in Indonesia not so long ago - I think everyone
>>> jumped in the air because there was awful things happening over there with
>>> the abattoirs.
>>>
>>> "That's been resolved - let this not be another crisis, let's do the right
>>> thing, let's pull together and save these cattle's lives."
>>>
>>> 'Absurb'
>>>
>>> But Mr Burke says he will not be swayed.
>>>
>>> "There's $60 million on the table right now for Queensland farmers for
>>> interest-free loans that [Premier] Campbell Newman's refusing to sign up
>>> to," he said.
>>>
>>> "It is just absurd for them to say that this is the only option, when
>>> everyone else in Australia is able to find options that don't involve
>>> wrecking national parks.
>>>
>>> "National parks are put there as a reserve for families to be able to go
>>> and enjoy nature - that's what they're for.
>>>
>>> "They're not farms, they're not rifle ranges, they're not there for the
>>> purposed of massive land clearing.
>>>
>>> "They're there for the purpose of having some parts of our country reserved
>>> for people to enjoy nature."
>>>
>>> But RSPCA spokesman Mark Townend says thousands of cattle could starve.
>>>
>>> "Drought assistance may help but in this situation you can't get to those
>>> cattle," he said.
>>>
>>> "The only way is to move them down to those national parks."
>>>
>>> 'Outrageous' opposition
>>>
>>> Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney says the Queensland Government will proceed with
>>> its plan, saying the opposition to the proposal is "outrageous".
>>>
>>> He says the Federal Government did provide funding to help purchase some of
>>> the properties, so it is appropriate to seek their cooperation.
>>>
>>> "We believe this is just such a common sense response to a critical animal
>>> welfare situation that we will proceed in Parliament next week to amend the
>>> legislation," he said.
>>>
>>> "We don't need anyone's permission to change the state legislation.
>>>
>>> "It is only the issue of the funding that was made available to buy these
>>> properties - we are not going to be put off."
>>> Rob Morris
>>>
>>>
>>> Brisbane, Australia
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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