OK, so we may have had to wait a little longer than usual, but our new Labor-Green minority government presents important opportunities to progress environmental issues that have been neglected for far too long in Western Australia. Environmental protection is generally a State responsibility, however there are a range of important areas where decisions are required by the Commonwealth that can make a real difference.
At the Conservation Council we have compiled a list of top priorities for Commonwealth Government action to protect the Environment in WA.
Step in to Protect the Kimberley
Recall the historic intervention by the Commonwealth Hawke Government to prevent the damming of the Franklin River in Tasmania in 1983. That is exactly the sort of intervention that we need to see from the Gillard Government right now in the Kimberley where WA Premier Barnett has announced plans to take Aboriginal lands for a massive industrial gas hub. If this Woodside proposal goes ahead we will not only see WA’s carbon pollution rising out of control, but we will see the end to the unique and pristine Kimberley coast damaged forever, and replaced instead with an industrial development in the middle of the most important calving ground for hump-back whales in the world. Recently the Conservation Council and our member groups released a report commissioned from the Curtin University Sustainable Tourism Centre demonstrating that this development would have a profound impact on sustainable tourism industries in the Kimberley. There could not be a clearer case for the Commonwealth Government to step in to protect Australia’s world class environmental and cultural heritage in the Kimberley.
Stop the coal expansion
Recently the world’s most highly respected climate scientist Dr. Janes Hansen from NASA said that ‘coal fired power stations are death factories – close them’. With three new coal fired power stations having recently received environmental approvals from the State and a coal mine proposed for Margaret River, urgent action by the commonwealth Government is required before the coal industry begins pouring concrete. The new Minority Government must immediately introduce policies to prevent the massive coal expansion that is planned in Western Australia and must take action as soon as possible to introduce a price on carbon to clean up the rest of our economy. Recently a lot of our time has been spent assisting the community in Margaret River to stop the proposal to develop an underground coal mine just 15km from Western Australia’s favourite tourist destination. There is only one safe thing to do with our coal deposits in WA and that is to leave them in the ground. We urgently need your assistance with this campaign – please make a tax-deductable donation here – anything you can give helps!
Save our Marine Life
The Commonwealth Government control the majority of Australia’s territorial waters and there is a huge opportunity to create a large network of marine sanctuaries in the South West marine region stretching from Kangaroo Island in South Australia to Shark Bay to the North. This area is home to greater marine biodiversity than the Great Barrier Reef, yet less than 1% is protected. Recent polling suggests that the vast majority of Western Australians want to see strong protection of our marine environment, so the creation of marine parks represents an opportunity for the new Gillard Government to do something popular that will also leave a lasting positive impact for future generations. Visit the Save our Marine Life website for more information and to see how you can get involved with this important campaign.
Protect our animals and their habitat
Western Australia is home to a number species that are listed as endangered under Commonwealth Government environmental legislation. This gives the Commonwealth Environment Minister powers to intervene where developments threaten these species. Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos and Western Ring-tailed Possums are unique to WA, and the survival of these species could depend on the approach taken by the next Environment Minister. Developments like the proposal by the University of Western Australia to clear important bushland at Shenton Park, the proposal by Main Roads WA to extend the Roe Highway through the Beeliar Wetlands, and the ongoing native forest logging in the South West all contribute to loss of critical habitat for our endangered species. These developments all have backing by the state Government and the only hope for these areas now lies with the Commonwealth. Stand by for announcements soon on how you can help to ensure these areas are protected.
If you have not done so already, we encourage you to send an email to Julia Gillard urging her to act on the priority environmental issues for WA have outlined above.
Support the Conservation Council – your independent voice for the environment by clicking here
I would like to see the Kimberley and it waters made into a National and Marine Parks for generations to come can go and see the natural beauty of the Kimberleys
We have something the rest of the world would die