26/05/2005 - Today in
Federal Parliament, Labor Senator Jan McLucas
admitted that a Federal Labor Government would
tear up the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
regional fishing and conservation boundaries.
These boundaries were produced after months
of extensive community consultation with the
fishing industry, recreational fisherman,
business people and citizens up and down the
Queensland coast.
Labor went to the 2004 Federal Election signalling
to Queensland coastal communities that the
reef boundaries would alter under a Labor
Government.
Today, Senator Jan McLucas refused my direct
request to turn her back on this destructive
policy and rule out changes to the boundaries.
Senator McLucas admitted Labor still had
a policy of throwing Barrier Reef communities
into confusion and dismay by redrawing the
boundaries - removing some areas from fishing
zones and adding other areas to recreation
zones.
Senator Campbell: When were you going to
review the boundaries?
Senator McLucas: In the review period that
was described in the RAP ...
Senator Campbell (later): You said you were
going to review the boundaries, I said I wasn't
- there's the difference.
Senate Estimate hearing, Parliament House,
Canberra 26 May 2005
The Howard Government through the Representative
Areas Programme (RAP) process has provided
certainty to all users of the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park and provided environment
protection for 33 per cent.
To date the Howard Government has provided
$37 million for structural adjustment for
affected businesses. Labor's plan would put
this whole process into chaos.
Labor must provide certainty today and announce
the new boundaries in its plan.
Labor plans to wreck the RAP.
