[Greens-Media] Qld Greens Media Release:Premier’s Promise to Protect Species a Fact Free Zone

[Qld Greens Media]

*Media Release: *

*Premier’s Promise to Protect Species a Fact Free Zone*


*The Greens have demanded that the ALP government immediately release 
all documents and advice received by the Premier’s office relating to 
the operation of the “fish lift” at Paradise dam on the Burnett River.*

The call comes after a Freedom of Information request lodged by 
conservationists several weeks ago was unable to find any documents or 
advice given to the Premier to support his claim that the lift protects 
the threatened Queensland Lungfish.
Last week one of the world’s most eminent biologists, former chief 
scientific adviser to the British Government and past president of the 
Royal Society Lord Robert May, expressed alarm over the fate of the 
“living fossil” Lungfish species, one of several threatened and 
endangered animals at risk from the government’s plans to dam the Mary 
River south of Gympie.
The ALP has consistently used the operation of the Paradise dam fish 
lift to dismiss such scientific concerns over the future of the world’s 
oldest fish in the Mary River. The ALP claim that a similar device on 
the Traveston Crossing dam would successfully protect the remaining 
population of the migratory fish and allow them to reach spawning sites 
upstream from the dam.
For example, on Monday, 29 May 2006, the Premier told the Australian 
Broadcasting Corporation that claims the Lungfish was being driven to 
extinction were "…alarmist and untrue. We've been able to put in place 
the transportation of lungfish and protect them in the Bundaberg region 
and we will do exactly the same in the [Mary River] region. We will not 
be environmental vandals; we will ensure we protect the lungfish. _We've 
succeeded in doing it at the Paradise Dam and we'll do it here._"
Last week, however, the Queensland Greens obtained a copy of a 
suppressed scientific report prepared by the Queensland Government 
showing that, in fact, fish lifts were not successful in protecting the 
Queensland Lungfish living in the Burnett River near Walla Weir. 
Prominent Lungfish biologist Dr Jean Joss of Macquarie University 
claimed two weeks ago that a whistleblower had revealed to her that the 
Department of Primary Industries had ordered this report shredded.
The Paradise dam on the Burnett River officially opened last Friday, and 
now the proposed Traveston Crossing dam on the Mary River threatens to 
destroy vital spawning sites in the other major native habitat of the 
species.

*Contact: Juanita Wheeler, Campaign Spokesperson, Mobile 0402 487 110*


-- 
www.qld.greens.org.au

State election Spokesperson. Juanita Wheeler 0402 487 110

Queensland Greens media spokespeople.

Climate Change and Indigenous. Drew Hutton 0428 487 110
Human Rights and Environment. Juanita Wheeler 0402 487 110
Transport and Planning. Greg George 0424 725 719

Queensland Greens campaign coordinator.
Ian Gittus 0422 542 370

Office 3846 0862
fax 3844 4654

www.qld.greens.org.au