Minister
urges Queenslanders to treat stingrays with respect
14 September 2006 - The Australian
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator
Ian Campbell, has asked Queenslanders not to express
their grief over the death of Steve Irwin by killing
stingrays.
A number of stingrays have been
found mutilated on Queensland beaches over the
past few days.
Reports from Queensland suggest
the attacks may be vengeful acts provoked by grief
over the loss of the much-loved ‘Crocodile Hunter’
who died last week after being stung by a stingray.
“Like most Australians I’m terribly
saddened by Steve Irwin’s untimely and accidental
death,” Senator Campbell said.
“Steve was a colourful, inspirational
and quintessential Australian driven by an enormous
and deeply held commitment to the environment
and the protection and conservation of our unique
wildlife.
“No matter how greatly he is
missed, he would deplore such cruel attacks on
the creatures and wildlife he dedicated his life’s
work and energy to protecting.
“While the sad events of last
week have undoubtedly created some fear of stingrays,
it would better if we were to replace that fear
with cautious respect.
“Leaving aside the senseless
cruelty of these acts, people need to remember
that cutting the tails from these animals exposes
you to danger.
“I call on the Queensland Government
to look into these reports as a matter of urgency
and to ensure the protection of the Queensland
coastal environment as well as the safety of those
enjoying the coast,” he said.
Rob Broadfield
Minister to attend high
level climate change summit
13 September 2006 - Minister
for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian
Campbell, will continue Australia’s push for an
effective global response to climate change at
an international Ministerial climate change summit
in Zurich this week.
Senator Campbell said the invitation-only
forum would bring together Ministers from about
30 countries to informally discuss ways to address
climate change and would help set the agenda for
the annual meeting of the United Nation’s Climate
Change Convention in Nairobi in November.
"The message I’ll be taking
to Zurich is that the world needs an effective
global response to climate change – one that involves
all the major emitters, is good for the environment
and is good for the world’s economies," Senator
Campbell said.
"Two key issues we’ll be
discussing are how we can best develop and transfer
new low-emission technologies to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and how to prepare countries to
adapt to the unavoidable effects of climate change.
"The world needs a ‘multi-track’
approach to climate change so that countries across
the world have the opportunity to work in different
ways appropriate to their specific circumstances."
Senator Campbell said his invitation
to represent Australia at this meeting showed
Australia’s role in responding to climate change
was well respected internationally.
"Contrary to claims that
we are ‘out of the loop’, Australia is in the
thick of international action on climate change,"
he said.
"We’ve demonstrated our
credentials by taking practical international
action – we’re an active member of the United
Nations Climate Change Convention; we’re founding
members of the AP6; we’ve been invited to participate
in the G8 Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy
and Sustainable Development; and we’re taking
action through a number of practical bilateral
partnerships.
"For example, in October
I’ll be leading Australia’s largest ever renewable
energy and energy efficiency business mission
to China. It will support the expansion of Australia’s
renewable energy industry and lead to further
practical cooperation between our two countries
on climate change."
"While in Zurich, I’ll
also be meeting with some of my Ministerial counterparts
to encourage them to continue supporting the international
fight against whaling."
Rob Broadfield
