Federal Minister for Sustainability and Environment Tony
Burke has spoken out against the Campbell Newman’s criticism of protection for
koalas in Queensland. In comments made this week, Mr Burke described Mr Newman
as an “environmental vandal” and said this move indicated the government’s
reversal of environmental standards.
“Only a fortnight ago, Mr Newman was offering to simplify
processing by having Queensland enforce the national environmental standards,”
said Mr Burke in his statement. “Now he wants to declare war on the standards
he was offering to enforce.”
This is just another step towards de-regulation of
environmental practices after Mr Newman spearheaded a push to “streamline”
environmental approvals at the Council of Australian Governments meeting in
April. Mr Burke sees this latest move as a sign that the Newman Government has “some
big plans for the bulldozer” despite scientific evidence of the threatened
nature of koalas in the state.
“The agreement was about getting rid of red tape, not
abandoning science and lowering standards,” said Mr Burke.
This is further evidence that Campbell Newman hates nature,
describing the legislation protecting koalas as “mindless green tape”, and he will
continue to steamroll his way towards an open-cut future as the rest of the
state wonders where all the bees went.
Mr Burke is also concerned about the direction this
government appears to be leading the state.
“Occasionally, people question environmental protections
which protect species no one has ever heard of. Mr Newman seems to have decided
the koala is in the same category,” said Mr Burke yesterday. “Campbell Newman may be happy for Queensland to be a place
where koalas only live in zoos, but I am not.”
Karl Anderson
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