May 10, 2018
KAP State Member for Hill Shane Knuth is demanding public hearings on KAP’s Safer Waterways Bill 2018 be held in Northern Queensland.
KAP State Member for Hill Shane Knuth is demanding public hearings on KAP’s Safer Waterways Bill 2018 be held in Northern Queensland.
The Innovation, Tourism Development and Environment Committee will oversee the Bill that was introduced into Parliament by Shane Knuth on the 21st March, with a report due to be tabled to Parliament on the 24th September 2018.
“The committee is yet to determine where the public hearings will take place,’’ Mr Knuth said.
“The Bill is designed to take back our populated waterways from the threat of crocodiles, particularly in North Queensland and to provide egg harvesting and other opportunities to indigenous and other land holders throughout the north, particularly the Cape.
“It is an important issue which affects North Queenslanders, so I have written to the committee demanding public hearings be conducted in Ingham, Innisfail, Cairns, Port Douglas and Cape York. I will be again enforcing this when I appear before the committee in Brisbane this Monday.”
The Bill was originally in the committee process prior to last year’s election but had to be reintroduced once the new parliament was formed.
“It has been a long process, which is disappointing,’’ Mr Knuth said.
“We saw recently the Government push through their vegetation bill in six weeks, yet a bill that is designed to protect life and livelihood will take six months to table in parliament.
“It is a stark reminder of how the State Government treats those outside of the south-east corner of the state. The Labor government rush through laws that damage regional industry, but delay bills that potentially save lives and the livelihoods of people in regional Queensland.”
“We expect and demand more from our government and North Queenslanders would be very disappointed if public hearings were not conducted in the very region the bill is designed to protect.’’
Submissions to the committee opened on the 30th April and close on the 31st May and can be emailed to itdec@parliament.qld.gov.au or contact hill@parliament.qld.gov.au
“I would encourage as many tourism operators, property owners, surf lifesaving members, water sport enthusiast and anyone affected by the encroachment of crocodiles in populated waterways or farms to have your say and lodge a submission before the closing date,” added Mr Knuth.