SENATOR DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM RUDD ON WILD RIVERS

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The Federal Coalition has continued its calls for the Rudd Government to support Tony Abbott’s private members bill to overturn the Wild Rivers Legislation the Queensland Government is forcing upon traditional land owners on the Cape York Peninsular.

Coalition Spokesman on Northern and Remote Australia Senator Ian Macdonald used Question Time in the Senate today to seek Government support for Tony Abbott’s bill to overturn the Wild Rivers Legislation.

“The Rudd Government has proved once again that they are an administration heavy on talk but light on action,” said Senator Macdonald.

“The Wild Rivers legislation is a disaster for indigenous people in the Torres Strait. By locking up these lands the Queensland Government is destroying the opportunities for sustainable private enterprises to be developed and perpetuating the cycle of welfare dependence in the Far North.

“It goes against all the rhetoric we have heard from the Federal Government about Closing the Gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians and is in direct contradiction to the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, a treaty Australia is a signatory of.

“This is a perfect opportunity for the Mr Rudd and his Government, to support decisive action to help indigenous people.

“Instead, what we saw today was the Federal Government giving us more hot air as they dismiss a question on indigenous welfare as “a diatribe”. Typically for the Rudd Government, there is no action, no alternative, just a blind refusal to do the right thing for traditional owners in the Far North.

“When he was elected Mr Rudd convinced voters that the buck would stop with him, well here it is.

“Why isn’t the Labor Government doing what the Prime Minister promised to do, by working together with Tony Abbott, to get a better deal for Indigenous people on Cape York?” asked Senator Macdonald

END

3 February 2010  Media contact Gordon Terry (02) 6277 3722 or 0427 960 255                                           

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