An Elder Speaks on Wild Rivers
Save Rivers, Save Rights, Respect Culture
Traditional Owners of Cape York are pressing for real river and catchment conservation. We believe a river protection solution should include:
- no mines
- no dams
- no excessive extraction of water
Communities across Cape York are united in their opposition to the Queensland Government’s imposed Wild Rivers legislation, which erodes native title and land rights, stifles small business opportunities and ignores proven aboriginal stewardship and sacred sites.
Cape York Traditional Owners were not properly consulted, their request for an extension for submissions on the legislation was refused, and their advice through submissions ignored.
Traditional management of Cape York rivers has been disregarded, and sacred sites completely overlooked.
With environment top of mind, Traditional Owners are calling for a balance between sustainable economic development and environmental conservation to be reached.
“The Queensland Wild Rivers Act ignored the recommendations made by traditional owners”
How you can Help?
Sign a petition calling for the Queensland Government to review river conservation on Cape York
Bring on the Promise - join Give Us a Go (tip box)
Doesn’t it make you mad when politicians don’t keep their promises?
Write to Premier Anna Bligh!
The Premier Promised…
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said: (2 Dec 2008 Questions Without Notice 3947):
“ The legislation that establishes the Wild River declaration process is carefully crafted to get the balance right between graziers, industry, traditional owners, and the environment. If it takes time to get it right, we will take that extra time. We are not about to ride roughshod… over the interests of the Aboriginal people of Cape York or indeed any other part of Australia.”
In fact:
- On instruction from the Wilderness Society, Bligh’s bureaucracy refused an extension for submissions sought by traditional owners.
- Submissions from Cape York traditional owners were ignored.
- Communities were deceived - 3 Wild River declarations in reality equates to 3 basins or 13 rivers
- Mabo lawyer Greg McIntyre SC said: “The Wild Rivers legislation erodes Native Title rights to economic development” .
Call on Premier Bligh to rework river conservation on Cape York.
- The Wilderness Betrayal (link to greg sargeant video)
- He also stated that the Wild Rivers Act is ‘racially discriminatory’.
