Ahead of the Queensland election, thousands of Queenslanders have called on all sides of politics to invest in Queensland’s national parks, protected areas on private land and on-ground land management jobs.
Specifically, we have called for a total of $135 million a year to deliver bigger, better national parks and protected areas on private land as well as more land management jobs to keep them healthy.
Here’s what the parties have to say about what they will do to expand and care for Queensland’s protected areas and deliver land management jobs for people and nature:
Labor
During the election campaign, Labor announced $6 million in new funding for protected area acquisition of islands in the Great Barrier Reef. This is in addition to a $60 million ‘down payment’ announced by the Palaszczuk Government in early October to support delivery of the state’s new Protected Area Strategy, including $28 million for national park acquisition, $8 million to support the Private Protected Area program and 100 new Indigenous ranger jobs. The Palaszczuk Government confirmed their commitment to a target of 17% of the state’s land area under protection in the Protected Area Strategy.
LNP
The LNP has committed to spend an additional $80 million minimum - that is, at least $20 million per year for four years from July 2021 - for the acquisition of new protected areas. The announcement does not specify allocation of funding between national parks and protected areas on private land. The LNP have committed to protect 17% of Queensland's land area in line with international targets.
Greens
The Greens support increasing the budget for protected area management to ensure that management plans for all national parks are developed, adequately funded and implemented. They have also committed to 200 new Indigenous Ranger jobs. Greens MP Michael Berkman says the Greens support the recommendation by an alliance of environmental organisations, including Our Living Outback, for $135 million a year to grow funding for protected areas and their management.
Other Crossbenchers
Shane Knuth MP, Katter Australian Party
Shane supports the recommendation by an alliance of environmental organisations, including Our Living Outback, for $24 million for the Private Protected Area program.
Sandy Bolton MP, Independent
"As the Member for Noosa I have always supported an increase in funding to grow and properly manage national parks and nature refuges and will continue to do so. I have also supported the growth of Queensland’s protected areas to meet the target of 17% to better protect our unique wildlife, cultural landscapes and places that are important to all Queenslanders, however believe we also can and must do better."
We have not received all minor parties’ or independents’ positions. Please contact [email protected] if you have further information.
In case you missed it!
On 13th October Our Living Outback co-hosted the Queensland Election Environment Debate. We heard directly from key politicians making the big decisions for our nature this election - Queensland Environment Minister Hon Leeanne Enoch, LNP Shadow Environment Minister Mr David Crisafulli, and Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman.
You can watch the debate here.
P.S. Just a reminder that Our Living Outback 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 nature for future generations.