TWO Queensland Catholic social justice organisations have urged Prime Minister John Howard and Premier Peter Beattie to stand firm in their commitment to addressing the land clearing problem in the state.
In May, Mr Howard and Mr Beattie put forward a joint proposal to rapidly phase out most broad-scale clearing of mature bushland in Queensland.
The Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) and the Social Action Office (SAO) of the Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes in Queensland want to make sure the two leaders keep their commitment.
CJPC executive officer, Peter Arndt, said the environmental, economic and social welfare of Queensland and the nation would be influenced by the degree of commitment shown by the Federal and State Governments in dealing with the problem.
‘According to Queensland Department of Natural Resources figures, the rate of land clearing has increased by about 50 per cent in the last decade,’ Mr Arndt said.
The CJPC applauded the State Government’s moratorium on the granting of new land clearing licences and the Federal Government’s support for this action, but Mr Arndt said the governments needed to come up with a viable plan that effectively protected native bushland.
The SAO is urging supporters to write to the Prime Minister and the Premier to address the land clearing problem.
