World Environment Day 2001

	News Release
		2001 News Releases index
Mike Elliott Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council		Environment News

On World Environment Day, the Australian Democrats have highlighted recent examples of the State Government’s environmental hypocrisy.

"After the prominence of environmental issues in the West Australian election, the Olsen Government has tried to paint itself green, but a look at its recent record on environmental issues shows that any green signs are only skin deep," Australian Democrats leader, Mike Elliott, said today.

"In last week’s Budget the State Government identified marketing our parks as a target for 2001-02. Yet there was no real increase in park services to handle increased visitor load and no specific money set-aside for the increased impact of visitation on our parks.

"The Australian Democrats advocated Ecotourism industry as a way forward for South Australia long before Labor or Liberal took it seriously, but we did so on one simple principle – if you do not protect the ecology there is no industry.

"Also in the Budget there was $7 million over fours years on Adelaide’s coastal parks which is shown to be a hypocritical gesture given that the State Government is already spending over $2 million a year on sand movement as a result of approving the Holdfast Shores development.

"Minister Evans has ignored calls for the joint proclamation of the Gammon Ranges National Park to be removed and protect the park from mining forever.

"Protection from mining in the Gammon Ranges National Park relies solely on the whim of this or future Environment Ministers, and after this Minister’s approval of mineral exploration in the Yumbarra Conservation Park one is not inspired with confidence.

"The State Government also refuses to assist the Bird Care Society who care for injured rare and endangered native birds.

"Despite his responsibility for both the Environment and the Year of Volunteers portfolios, Minister Evans has refused to change new departmental rules that are effectively destroying this voluntary group’s ability to carry out their charter.

"Even the recent announcement of the Adelaide Hills National Park amounted to little more than re-badging and provided no environmental corridors for native species to move between parts of the park."