LNP Queensland

Jeff Seeney MP     

Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy                                                                                      

The State Opposition has welcomed Tony Abbott’s draft laws in Federal Parliament to overthrow Bligh Labor’s Wild Rivers Act.

LNP natural resources spokesman Jeff Seeney said Mr Abbott’s draft laws would restore the rights of Cape communities to determine their economic future.

"Bligh Labor’s Wild Rivers laws were nothing more than a grubby election deal to secure green preferences," Mr Seeney said.

"They (wild rivers laws) have strangled economic development opportunities for indigenous communities in far north Queensland and Mr Abbott’s private member’s bill would return basic rights to Cape York aborigines," he said.

"The LNP, indigenous leaders and landholders have raised their concerns long and loud, but Anna Bligh and her Minister Stephen Robertson refuse to listen.

"Let’s all hope the Prime Minister will join Mr Abbott in a bipartisan show of support for our aboriginal communities and if he’s fair dinkum about supporting their economic future then he must support Mr Abbott’s private member’s bill."

Mr Seeney said it was well past time for honesty on the issue so that Cape communities could determine their own future, take up economic opportunities and reduce reliance on welfare.