The Wild Rivers Bill

25/11/11

The Government has now referred my Private Member’s Bill, to provide the Aboriginal people of Cape York with greater economic opportunity, to a fifth parliamentary committee for review.

This week the Gillard-Brown Government forced at least 17 pieces of legislation through the Senate without a single word of debate, effectively denying any scrutiny or accountability on behalf of the Australian people.

At the same time, the Government continues to dodge a vote on the Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2011 and has referred it to yet another parliamentary committee.

My proposal has now been considered by the House Economics Committee, the House Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry Committee, twice by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee and will now be referred to the House Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee.

The Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2011 provides that a Queensland Government declaration of wild river – effectively locking away the surrounding land from economic development – can only take effect if the traditional owners of the land consent to it.

Julia Gillard should stop saying “no” to this Bill and greater economic opportunity on Cape York. She should say “yes” to providing the Aboriginal people of Cape York with more control over their land and more control over their economic destiny.

Julia Gillard should stop putting the hunt for Green preferences ahead of a fair go for Aboriginal people on their own land.

The Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2011 is a practical solution to addressing indigenous disadvantage on Cape York and is part of the Coalition’s plan to build a stronger Australia.