Where do the parties stand on better protections for the rivers and floodplains of the Channel Country?
Ahead of the Queensland election, the Western Rivers Alliance, along with hundreds of supporters, asked all parties to better protect the rivers and floodplains of the Channel Country to demonstrate their support for the wildlife and the communities of the Channel Country.
Better protections for the Channel Country are needed at a legislative level to address the threats of large-scale irrigation, instream mining and gas fracking. These all threaten the health and integrity of these rivers that support the existing grazing and tourism industries.
The Cooper, Diamantina and Georgina rivers bring life to the dry heart of Australia as they feed water from the tropics south into Lake Eyre. These rivers are among the last free flowing desert rivers on Earth. When the floods arrive the water flows through the braided channels and across the floodplains bringing an explosion of life to the arid heart of Australia. The rivers recharge the water holes and wetlands that are of international significance for both their natural and cultural values.
This is why we asked all parties to demonstrate their support for the wildlife and the communities of the Channel Country this election by committing to stronger legislative protections for the rivers and floodplains of the Channel Country within the first 12 months of a newly elected government.
This is how they responded:
Queensland Labor
The Queensland Labor party has not yet delivered the commitment made at the 2015 election, and again at the 2017 election, to review current legislation and ensure protection for the rivers and floodplains of the Channel Country.
At this election, Queensland Labor has committed to restoring protections that existed under the former Wild Rivers Act framework. These former protections involved excluding large-scale irrigation and dams, excluding hard-rock mining, and regulating (but not prohibiting) petroleum extraction including industrial gas fracking within the river and floodplain areas of the Channel Country. If re-elected, Labor has committed to establishing a ‘Lake Eyre Basin Stakeholder Advisory Group’ to guide consultation on the proposed legislative changes. Labor did not commit to a 12 month timeframe for introducing stronger legislative protections. Read the ALP’s response to the Western Rivers Alliance here.
Liberal National Party
The LNP has not committed to strengthening protections for the rivers and floodplains of the Channel Country. In response to calls for stronger protection from the Western Rivers Alliance, the LNP have committed to not weakening existing protections for the rivers and floodplains introduced by the Newman LNP government.
In 2014 the Newman LNP government weakened protections for rivers by repealing the Wild Rivers Act and introducing the Regional Planning Interest Act (RPIA). The RPIA does provide a level of protection for the rivers and floodplains from large-scale irrigation and dams, and hard-rock mining but does not provide protection from petroleum extraction including industrial gas fracking which is currently permitted on river and floodplain areas. Read the LNP’s response to the Western Rivers Alliance here.
Queensland Greens
The Queensland Greens have committed to supporting stronger protections for the rivers and floodplains of the Channel Country and opposing the expansion of unconventional (shale, tight and coal seam) gas across Queensland. Read the Queensland Greens’ response to the Western Rivers Alliance here .
Other parties
The Katter Australian Party and One Nation did not respond to the request to strengthen protection for the rivers and floodplains of the Channel Country within the first 12 months of a newly elected government.
The rivers of the Channel Country are among the last free flowing desert rivers on Earth. When the floods arrive the water winds through the iconic braided channels and flows across the floodplains bringing an explosion of life to the arid heart of Australia. The rivers recharge the water holes and wetlands that are of international significance for both their natural and cultural values.
Please use this link to share the parties’ positions on protecting the Channel Country rivers and floodplains with your friends and family. When you do that, you’ll be sending a message to political parties that Queenslanders are watching what they do on this issue.
Whatever the result of this election, together, we are standing with Traditional Owners, Channel Country locals and businesses, scientists, and conservationists to fight for the future of our desert rivers.
Thank you for your ongoing support for the people and nature of the Channel Country.
P.S. Just a reminder that Western Rivers Alliance is nonpartisan - we’ll never tell you who to vote for but we’ll always let you know when pollies back protecting Queensland’s unique Channel Country for wildlife, communities and future generations.