WWF dredges up more lies

WORLD Wildlife Fund (WWF) were called out during a hearing for the Register of Environmental Organisations in Canberra for using an image of dredging in Boston Harbor to create false impressions about the Abbot Point port expansion in North Queensland.I challenged WWF about an image used by the Fight For The Reef campaign (which is run by WWF in conjunction with the Australian Marine Conservation Society) in a social media promotion soliciting donations to their cause.The original photo could be found here on istockphoto*, run by Getty Images, where it is described as: “A dredge is making a part of Boston Harbor deeper so that it can handle different ships and boats. A big scoop pulling water a (sic) debris from the bottom clearing a way for progress.”

Read More

MP’s call to stop court action against jobs heeded by AG & PM

MY call for a legal counter-offensive to stop extreme green groups from taking job-creating projects to court has been heeded with both the Attorney General and the Prime Minister agreeing that action needed to be taken.I spoke to the Attorney General George Brandis shortly after the Carmichael mine approval was overturned in the courts at the instigation of an extreme green group.I told him that it was unacceptable that groups that had nothing to do with this project were able to hold up and try to kill off jobs by waging warfare through the legal system.In an interview on Sunday the Attorney General said he wanted to stop such ‘vigilante litigation’.

Read More

State holds up flow of jobs at Abbot Point

JOBS that would have been created at Abbot Point will be on hold this year because the State Labor Government continues to drag the chain on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the port expansion.I have been advised by Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt that the State government had not submitted an EIS for the port expansion despite State Mines Minister Anthony Lynham claiming on ABC radio today that the EIS had been lodged with the Commonwealth.This unacceptable delay by the State Labor government has cost jobs this year and these are jobs so desperately needed right now by communities across North Queensland such as Mackay, Bowen and Townsville.

Read More

Nats call for ban on green court action

UNDER a stance taken by the National Party at a meeting in Rockhampton yesterday, the Mackay Conservation Group would not be allowed to challenge job-creating projects such as the Carmichael Mine in the courts.Why should a group which is not directly impacted by the establishment of a mine have so much to say about the value of a projectThese self-styled guardians should have no authority before the courts.

Read More

State Labor funding green activists to destroy jobs

THE State Labor Government needs to explain why they have given Mackay Conservation Group $5 for every job they kill off for workers desperate for employment.There are some serious questions which need to be answered by the Palaszczuk Government regarding their $50,000 donation to Mackay Conservation Group in the wake of the latest delay to Adani’s Carmichael Coal Project.The Premier of this state needs to explain why she wants to fund a group who are hell-bent on destroying the biggest job-creating project on the table.

Read More

Extreme greens put skink and snake ahead of workers desperate for jobs

THE Mackay Conservation Group are feeling victorious about their misguided campaign to put the welfare of the Yakka Skink and Ornamental Snake ahead of thousands of Mackay and Bowen workers desperate for jobs, but the court case victory they are crowing about today is a hollow one.I have spoken to Minister Greg Hunt’s office this morning and what has happened here is largely an administrative issue which should be resolved within six to eight weeks.

Read More

Green Army a tool for young job-seekers

YOUNG people looking for jobs are urged to consider joining the Green Army and groups with ideas for projects should come forward as applications for Round 4 of the program are now open.We’ve had some great projects undertaken locally by the Green Army, which is a program which benefits both the environment and young people keen to gain some more skills which might lead to permanent jobs.Participants aged between 17 and 24 will be able to undertake accredited training such as work readiness, conservation and land management, heritage conservation, project and human resource management and heritage trade skills.They will be supported to obtain Certificate I or II qualifications or nationally endorsed skills to help them prepare for the workforce or improve their career opportunities, and they’ll also receive a Green Army allowance while they do so.

Read More

Grants to support practical environment projects

28 JULY 2015: PRACTICAL measures to improve the environment will be backed by a new round of funding through the Liberal National Government’s National Landcare Programme. A total of $135,000 will be offered through the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region by Reef Catchments through their Looking After Local Landscapes initiative.

Read More