Qld: End to landclear of world significance, says Beattie

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2006
Qld: End to landclear of world significance, says Beattie

(Changes keyword from Year Qld)



BRISBANE, Dec 31 AAP - Queensland Premier Beattie has hailed the state's end to broadscale
clearing of native vegetation as one of world significance.

The ban, which comes into force tomorrow, ends a two year phasing-out period of the practice.

"Tomorrow is a very significant day for the environment," Mr Beattie told reporters today.

"We will record in Queensland an environmental achievement of world significance and
at midnight tonight, broadscale clearing of native vegetation will cease in this state.

Mr Beattie said the end to broadscale clearing would cut greenhouse gas emissions by
an estimated 20 million tonnes a year.

"This is the only reason Australia has gone anywhere near meeting the Kyoto (protocol) targets."

Mr Beattie acknowledged some farmers would still need to clear vegetation for management
purposes such as controlling weeds and building fences.

But those who were affected by the end to broadscale clearing could apply for assistance
grants of up to $100,000, or if badly enough affected, could apply for grants to exit
broadscale farming altogether.

Applications for funding closed on February 21 and by December 15, the government had
received 549 applications totalling $54.8 million and bought three properties.

A key environmental group welcomed the end to large-scale land clearing.

Wilderness Society spokesman Dr Barry Traill praised the state government for the move.

"This is the biggest single environmental gain in Australian history," Dr Traill said
in a statement.

"Until controls were put in place, Queensland was one of the worst hotspots for environmental
destruction on Earth."

Land clearing in Queensland killed millions of native animals each year and was the
main cause of salinity, as well as being a major source of greenhouse gas pollution, created
when bulldozed trees were burnt or rotted, releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,
he said.

But said there was still considerable work to be done and illegal rates of clearing
remained high.

"The Queensland Government must do more to ensure the laws are enforced fairly," Dr Traill said.

Mr Beattie could also not resist taking a swipe today at the federal government, saying
it had not contributed any funding to Queensland's phase-out of broadscale clearing but
was pushing for nuclear power.

On Friday, Prime Minister John Howard released the final report of the government's
Uranium Mining Processing and Nuclear Energy Task Force, saying nuclear energy could help
stem the rise in electricity prices as the nation attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"I say to the prime minister 'this came without one cent from the Commonwealth and
if he keeps pursuing nuclear power at the expense of clean coal technology, Australians
won't reward you at the ballot box for it."

AAP rad/jlw

KEYWORD: BROADSCALE

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