Coalition divided on grazing policy


THE first fault lines have emerged within Victoria's new Coalition government, with Liberal and National Party MPs publicly at odds over environmental policy.

Barely two weeks since winning office, the government is divided over aspects of the plan to return cattle grazing to Victorian national parks.

The Coalition has promised to overturn Labor's ban on cattle grazing in alpine national parks in the belief that strategic grazing can reduce bushfire risk by reducing fuel loads.

But the Liberals and Nationals are at odds over whether cattle should be allowed back into the prized red gum forests on the banks of the Murray River at Barmah and Gunbower.

Cattle were banned from Barmah and Gunbower when the internationally recognised forests were declared national parks last year, but National Party MP Paul Weller said the new Coalition government would allow cattle back into the areas.

''That's right, it probably won't be this year because it will be too wet for too long … it will probably be toward the end of 2011,'' he said.

''The reason we put them in is for the management of the fuel loads for fire and the cattlemen actually care for the bush greater than anyone else.''

Mr Weller's electorate of Rodney contains both Barmah and Gunbower, and when asked if the Liberal ranks of the Coalition agreed with the plan to put cattle back into those forests, Mr Weller said: ''Yep, it's Coalition policy''.

''We are in Coalition and the Coalition opposed making the parks into national parks.''

But the Coalition's new Environment and Climate Change Minister, Liberal MP Ryan Smith, had a different view.

''There are no plans to reintroduce cattle grazing to Barmah and Gunbower forests,'' he said. ''We have a policy to reinstate high-country cattle grazing to reduce fire risk, which we are committed to and any decision we make will take into account any potential environmental impact.''

Opposition scrutiny of government spokesman Martin Pakula attacked the Coalition's divided stance.

''The cracks that the Coalition could hide in opposition can't be hidden in government. Decisions have to be made,'' he said. ''Has the Environment Minister been left out of the loop? Or will the National Party once again roll over to have its tummy scratched by its Liberal Party master?''

The cattle grazing policy is threatening to spark more than internal struggles for new Premier Ted Baillieu, with the federal government indicating last week that national heritage laws would give them the final say over any plan to return cattle to the Victorian alps.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/coalition-divided-on-grazing-policy-20101212-18u0t.html

"horse-riding in Bago State Forest"

I don't know about State Forests, but I hate the people that bring their horses into National Parks, and thence onto my land, illegally and against the posted signage.

Please delete wrote on Dec 13^th, 2010 at 1:38pm:



Why don`t you & the Dept of Sparks & Wild Fires do something about the feral animals and noxious plants you are breeding in our National Parks?

"Don't you have fences Ernie?"

The park does, but my land doesn't.

There are signs on the track into the park, and I have posted signs, but apparently horse people and motor cyclists can't read.

Please delete wrote on Dec 13^th, 2010 at 1:53pm:

Copper wire about 5ft high strung across track should overcome any literacy problems 

buzzanddidj wrote on Dec 13^th, 2010 at 1:56pm:


Shouldn't that be "The Coalition has ALWAYS had a divide between climate change realists and climate change alarmists"???

gizmo_2655 wrote on Dec 13^th, 2010 at 1:54pm:


And birds and native herbivores don't ?????

Quote:




"they're" .... as in Baillieu ?

Baillieu has been told, in no uncertain terms, that the beef industry ban  from the Alpine National Park is maintained under FEDERAL legislation
It is out of his jurisdiction




GRAZING in Victoria's Alpine National Park could put the federal and Victorian governments at loggerheads.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has warned the Victorian Government he will have the final say on the re-introduction of cattle to the park.

Victoria's new Coalition Government has promised cattlemen they will regain access to the park, after being locked out by the former Labor Government in 2005.

Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria spokesman Chris Commins said members were itching to go back into the park.

"We'd be ready at a moment's notice," Mr Commins said. "We're waiting on the State Government."

But Victorian National Parks Association spokesman Phil Ingamells said the State Government was required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to gain Federal Government approval before allowing cattle back in.

The EPBC Act prohibits activities "with a significant impact on a National Heritage Place".

The Victorian Alpine National Park is one of eleven national parks and nature reserves registered on the National Heritage List in 2008.

Mr Burke said the Federal Government was committed to protecting and properly managing places on the National Heritage List.

"Any activity likely to have a significant impact on a place protected under national environment law, such as a National Heritage place, must be submitted to the Federal Environment Department to see whether federal assessment is needed," Mr Burke said

http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2010/12/08/269861_latest-news.html