RUDD IGNORES THE NORTH – AGAIN

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The Rudd Government has signalled its lack of interest in Northern Australia with initial comments on its long delayed report of the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce.

Federal Opposition Spokesman on Northern and Remote Australia Ian Macdonald said that after sitting on the report for over six weeks the Government has now selectively released the report.

“The Rudd Government’s initial comments on the report are negative, contrary to the facts and show yet again a pandering to a green agenda,” said Senator Macdonald.

“As a former of the Taskforce I am aware of a mosaic of suitable soils across the north of Australia.

“I am also aware that there are serious proposals for sustainable water storage on rivers in the North to take advantage of the regular Northern rainfall equivalent to 8 times the annual run-off of the Murray Darling Basin.

“Rainfall across the North is 2000 times the capacity of Sydney harbour.

“There is further capacity in the Burdekin Falls Dam, the Tinaroo Dam and the Ord River Dam.

“There is as well potential in the Douglas Daley irrigation areas of the Northern Territory.

“And there are sensible proposals for water storage on the Gilbert and Flinders Rivers running into the Gulf of Carpentaria.

“Newspaper reports of the Taskforce report, which has clearly been selectively leaked, quote a Dr Stuart Blanch who is the freshwater manager for WWF.

“The north already produces more than 35% of Australia’s export earnings not withstanding a population of less than five percent of Australia.

“But with the wealth in the North from minerals, beef, other agricultural pursuits and new service industries to service the tropical world, Australia’s future lies in the North.

“Sustainable development of the North will be a real benefit to Indigenous Australians, many of whom live in remote parts of Northern Australia.

“The Rudd Governments lack of support for Northern Indigenous people evidenced by their rejection of Tony Abbott’s private members bill to overturn the Wild Rivers legislation, and selective and partisan leaking of the Taskforce Report shows again that the Rudd Government has no interest in Northern and Remote Australia.

“The Rudd Government has clearly been captured by the dark Green agenda without any consideration of the need to feed Australia and the World into the future.

“I call upon the Minister responsible for Northern Australia, Gary Gray to immediately release the report so that all Australians have the ability to make their own mind on the future of Northern Australia free from the biased political approach by the Rudd Government,” said Senator Macdonald

*As at 9:30am AEDST the report obviously released to the Australian Newspaper was not available on any government website

END

8 February 2010

Media contact Gordon Terry      (07) 4771 3066   or   0427 960 255                                           

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