Return to pre-Fitzgerald

The following release from the Local Government Association signals a return to uncontrolled development.

Clive Palmer is already taking advantage of this with his plans for Mrs Palmer's Resort at Yaroomba.....

It may be time to take to the streets.

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News Release (LGAQ)

Thursday, 26 July 2012

Newman Government reversal puts communities back in the development box seat

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) says the reversal of a so-called red tape reduction move by the previous Queensland Government is a victory for communities and their ability to influence development decisions.

Under the Newman Government, the Sustainable Planning Amendment Regulation (No.2) 2012 - regarding the exemption of development for existing schools and public hospitals - has been disallowed by resolution of the Legislative Assembly.

LGAQ chief executive Greg Hallam, say the Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009 was amended by the former State Government in February this year, to prescribe that all aspects of development (subject to meeting minor amenity criteria) for existing public hospitals, state, and non-state schools be exempt from local planning instruments.

“This was rushed through without consultation before the Bligh Government went into caretaker mode,” said Mr Hallam. “The change risked opening the floodgates to unregulated development – which could have cost ratepayers millions of dollars to fix.”

“The move by the Newman Government to reverse this decision means that councils and their communities won’t be left picking up the pieces, in regard to the impact of inappropriate development on surrounding residences and businesses.”

The LGAQ sought legal advice on the impacts of the amendment on local government and has lobbied the Newman Government to reverse the decision.

“The LGAQ congratulates the Newman Government for its timely response in disallowing this perilous regulation,” said Mr Hallam.

Local Government Association of Queensland
LGAQ House, 25 Evelyn Street, Newstead Qld 4006

Powell's Charter [Open Season on the Environment]

10 April 2012


The Honourable Andrew Powell MP
Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection
Level 13, 400 George Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000


Dear Minister

Ministerial Deliverables

Congratulations on your success in the electorate of Glass House and thank you for accepting my invitation to serve Queensland as the Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection.

Our electoral success was achieved with a strong cohesive CanDo team committed to real change, and your contribution to the team played a significant part. Queenslanders have voted for change, and it is critical that we respect the trust bestowed on us by delivering on our commitments to grow a four pillar economy, lower the cost of living by cutting waste, deliver better infrastructure and better planning, revitalise front line services for families, restore accountability in Government and work towards our goal of achieving 4% unemployment in six years.

For this reason, I am writing to each Minister outlining my expectations of the priority tasks to be achieved to deliver on our election commitments. You and your Department have a vital role to play in the reform program, as reflected in the following tasks for which I am requesting you to take responsibility.

I expect that at all times Ministers will demonstrate to the public the capabilities and behaviours that will define us as the Government we undertook to be – united, energetic, disciplined and ethical. I refer you to the Queensland Cabinet Handbook, the Queensland Ministerial Handbook, the Queensland Executive Council Handbook, the Queensland Parliamentary Procedures Handbook and the Queensland Legislation Handbook.

Key issues
As Minister for the Environment, your key responsibility will be to address issues pertaining to the health of the environment in Queensland, including protection of its flora and fauna, landscapes, pristine waterways and biodiversity.

In considering the division of responsibilities between the Environment, National Parks and the Natural Resources management, other Ministers will be responsible for managing sustainable access to, and use of, our natural resources and protected areas (eg – water allocations for irrigation, and access to National Parks).



Contribution to the 100 Day Plan
The following are the specific tasks relevant to your portfolio which you need to achieve in the first 100 days of Government.
• Commence work to deliver the LNP’s election commitment to develop a Cape York Bioregion Management Plan

In cooperation with the Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing:
• Initiate recruitment of Indigenous Rangers who will have a particular focus on the protection of our pristine waterways, protected species and National Park management.
• Commission an immediate independent scientific peer review of the Fraser Island Dingo Management Strategy.

Contribute as required to:
• Begin Statutory Regional Planning process for the Darling Downs and Golden Triangle, and act to protect the Scenic Rim from inappropriate resource development including CSG.
• Amend the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 to bring Queensland in line with other States and protect Queensland’s iconic dugong and turtle populations.
• Commence a structural adjustment package for the net fishing industry.

First Term Tasks
In addition to these early milestones, the following tasks within your area of Ministerial responsibility are to be achieved within the first term of Government.
• Implement all LNP election policy commitments relevant to your portfolio.
• Identify wasteful expenditure that could be redirected to front line services.
• Deliver the LNP’s election commitment for a $12 million Everyone’s Environment grants program to help clean up, fix up and conserve the Queensland environment.
• Deliver the LNP’s $26.5 million koala protection election commitment to address disease prevention and vaccination, habitat protection, community education, and the recovery and rehabilitation of sick or injured animals.
• Deliver the LNP’s election commitment to employ 40 additional Indigenous rangers, who will have a particular focus on the protection of our pristine waterways, protected species and National Park management.
• Deliver the LNP’s election commitment to develop a Cape York Bioregion Management Plan and repeal the Wild Rivers Declarations on Cape York - to safeguard the iconic areas of Cape York, balanced with appropriate development opportunities for locals.
• Deliver the LNP’s election commitment for improved crocodile management with an increased focus on public safety.
• Deliver the LNP’s election commitment of support for World Heritage listing of suitable areas of Cape York.
• Deliver the LNP’s election commitment to maintain current funding for Healthy Waterways and NRM Groups.
• Deliver the LNP’s election commitment to abolish the previous Government’s redundant, state-based carbon schemes as they relate to your portfolio.
• Instruct the Department for Environment and Heritage Protection to immediately cease activity on initiatives that do not conform with LNP election commitments, including activities that aim to further progress Wild Rivers legislation, and refocus those staff resources on the delivery of frontline services.
• Implement the LNP’s election commitment to cut waste by reducing travel, advertising and consultancy expenditure.
• Implement the LNP’s election commitment for sustainable public sector growth.
• Implement the LNP’s election commitment to reduce red tape.
• Continue to establish effective working relationships with stakeholders and other interest groups relevant to your portfolio areas.

Your leadership particularly in advocating for a balance between environmental sustainability, and the growth of our industries will be vital in this term of government. We need to grow all our industries, build vital infrastructure, and at the same time continue to protect Queensland’s environment for the future.

Could you please consult with your Director-General to ensure these goals are understood by the Department and that systems are in place to monitor and report on progress towards their achievement, so that you are able to update Cabinet regularly. In this regard, the Department of Premier and Cabinet will be responsible for coordinating reports to Cabinet on progress, and will assist your Department with proposed reporting formats.

I intend to review this charter and your efforts to implement it regularly.

Finally, I congratulate you again on your appointment and I look forward to working closely with you as a Ministerial colleague as we implement our policies and achieve the goal of providing a CanDo Government to get Queensland back on track.

Yours sincerely





CAMPBELL NEWMAN
PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND

Draft Sustainable Business Weekly - Qld Edition

A State of Flux

Environmental Law in Qld (& Australia is in a tremendous State of flux.

This week, the Qld Government had its first Cabinet meeting, since the recent State elections.

The newly elected Premier of Qld: Mr Campbell Newman was also in Canberra this week meeting with in the lead up to a meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).. One of the topics of discussion was the reduction of Environmental Regulation.

Green Tape

The Federal Government hosted discussions with the COAG Business Advisory Forum in Canberra with alleged business Leaders & State Governments.

The red (& green) tape reduction reform process was a key topic of the inaugural meeting.

State & territory governments would get a bigger say in environmental approvals to fast-track major projects under a deal to go to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) this week.

The commonwealth will retain responsibility for World Heritage and "high-risk projects". Currently any company proposing a major development such as a mine, port, rail line or tourist project must meet state & federal environmental rules, which can tie up the project for years.

The former Qld Government’s Green Tape Reduction program has been sent back to square one. The newly elected Government is setting out to “streamline environmental protections”

Mr Newman said the new Queensland position was one of “competitive federalism” but again no one seems to know what the implications are for Environment Protection.

Premier Campbell Newman has rejected suggestions that widening the gap between regulatory systems in different states would actually make it more expensive for businesses to operate across borders.

While the Premier supports a harmonised approach to various forms of regulation, he is advocating that Qld stand up & decide to out-compete other states.

As for cutting "green tape", Mr Newman believed discussions in the pre-COAG business forum did not go far enough.

The Premier wants the Federal Government to delegate the powers of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to the states.

He complained that the Federal Government kept "coming over the top" of the Queensland Government to delay major resource and tourism projects.

Carbon Tax - High Court Challenge

Mr Newman is seeking legal advice on whether it can fight the carbon tax as unconstitutional.

He expects to get that in the next few weeks. He had spoken to at least one other premier about possibly joining together in a High Court challenge.

Mr Newman said Cabinet also looked at some options to address the issue of high electricity costs for Queenslanders.

As a first action, the LNP government will legislate to ensure carbon tax costs can be displayed on Queenslanders’ electricity bills by 1 July to coincide with the introduction of the Carbon Tax.

Repealing the Waste Levy

Repealing the former Qld Government’s Waste levy was on the agenda of the first Cabinet Meeting of the new Government.

The Waste Levy introduced in December 2011 is being repealed by 1 July 2012 as part of the action plan to deliver the LNP’s Lower Cost of Living for Families Package for Queenslanders.

Premier Campbell Newman said cost of living in Queensland had skyrocketed under Labor and the LNP Government’s focus was to act immediately to start addressing cost of living issues.

Campbell Newman described the former Government’s waste levy, as a huge slug on businesses, families & councils.

His Government will be looking at alternative funding streams to deliver an industry driven waste strategy as part of the budget process.

Bulk Water Prices

Following Cabinet consideration, the Queensland Water Commission & Treasury have been asked for an accelerated review of bulk water prices, with options for a new price path to be brought back to Cabinet by 31 May 2012.

Gladstone Harbour

Gladstone Harbour seems to be the test case for the new Qld State Government’s approach to Environmental regulation in Qld.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney expressed his desire to annex Gladstone Harbour from the Great Barrier Reef marine Park.