Media release - 24 February
2014 - In October last year I ordered an
inquiry into allegations of potential conflicts
of interest involving two board members
of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
Independent legal expert
Robert Cornall has carried out the inquiry
and provided me with the final reports.
The report finds that
allegations of conflict of interest are
'unfounded'.
The report finds that
the two board members have at no time breached
their public duty in regard to their position
with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Authority.
Key findings from the
inquiry surrounding Mr Tony Mooney and Mr
Jon Grayson include:
Both board members appropriately
disclosed their financial and personal interests
Mr Mooney's position as an employee of a
coal explorer that does not mine or export
coal and has no immediate plans to do so,
does not amount to a material personal interest
Mr Grayson, the Queensland Government's
nominee to the board, declared his personal
interests to the Integrity Commissioner
and the interests don't conflict with his
public duty
The board members' employment and assets,
which they declared, aren't considered real
or apparent conflict of interest under the
Australian Public Service Code of Conduct
Neither board member has links to the Obeid
family.
Mr Cornall recommended that the Authority
'take no further action in this matter'.
+ More
Feral pigs targeted
to save endangered turtles
19 February 2014 - Feral
pigs will be targeted under a joint State
and Federal Government initiative to aid
marine turtle recovery and continue the
war on pests.
The Australian and Queensland
Governments will jointly invest up to $7
million to help reduce the threat to marine
turtle nests from feral pigs and protect
Queensland’s iconic turtle populations both
now and into the future.
The Australian Government
will match the Queensland Government’s investment
of $3.5 million over the next four years.
The Great Barrier Reef
World Heritage Area is home to three endangered
turtle species. Federal Environment Minister
Greg Hunt said this program will help protect
turtle eggs, hatchlings and habitat along
the Queensland coast.
“Feral pig predation
of turtle nests is one of the main threats
facing marine turtle populations in Queensland.
They prey on the eggs of our olive ridley,
flatback, loggerhead, green and hawksbill
turtles. Finding a way to stop this destruction
of turtle nests is an important priority
for both our Governments,” Minister Hunt
said.
“In some areas along
the coast up to 90% of turtle nests are
lost to predation by feral pigs.
“Of greatest concern,
and a priority for the Australian Government,
is the protection of turtle populations
nesting on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula.
“Turtle populations
at most risk in these areas are the western
Cape York populations of the olive ridley
turtle, listed as ‘Endangered’ and the flatback
turtle, which is currently listed as ‘Vulnerable’.
"We'll work with
local indigenous communities to help stop
the damage from feral pigs and protect our
turtle populations "
Queensland National
Parks Minister Steve Dickson said lax pest
management from the former Labor State and
Federal Governments had resulted in national
parks being overrun with feral animals.
“It is estimated there
are up to 23.5 million feral pigs in Australia.
They are one of the great challenges in
managing national parks in Queensland due
to the large amount of damage they cause
to our ecosystems and wildlife,” Minister
Dickson said.
“This program will also
benefit other animals and birds that are
preyed on by feral pigs.
“We’ll be identifying
key nesting sites on the east and west coast
that are priority areas for control efforts,
and develop annual implementation plans
and monitoring programs.
“We’ll also work with
key landholders, including land trusts,
natural resource management groups and other
organisations to enhance existing feral
pig control programs.”
Both Governments are
committed to working together to protect
Queensland’s unique and iconic marine environment.
In addition to working
with the Queensland Government to protect
turtle nest sites from feral pigs, the Federal
Government is providing $5 million for dugong
and turtle protection through the Reef 2050
Plan and Reef Trust.
Other initiatives include
a comprehensive strategic assessment of
the Great Barrier Reef, a commitment to
improving water quality, $40 million to
establish a Reef Trust and continued protection
under national environment laws.
