Qld's conservation act shaken up

Queensland's opposition has slammed changes to the state's nature conservation act, which they say could open national parks to any charlatan.

Queensland's opposition says the state's nature conservation act is being gutted to make a quick buck.

In a move government says will improve access and boost tourism, the state's national parks will open to commercial operations under amendments due to be passed on Tuesday.

Environmentalists say the bill will allow ecologically unsustainable uses in protected areas.

Labor's Bill Byrne says the 20-year-old act is being turned on its head so its primary purpose will no longer be to conserve nature but to provide commercial and recreational benefits for humans.

"We readily agree that educational, recreational, cultural and sometimes even commercial activities can be appropriate in national parks, but they must always be secondary activities that are entirely 100 per cent subordinate to the protection of nature," he told parliament.

"The LNP wants to 'open them up' to any charlatan in search of a quick buck."

Under the changes, public input into the management of protected areas will be limited.

It will also be harder for people who injure themselves in national parks after acting recklessly or disregarding warning signs to sue the state.

According to government figures, there are currently nine current claims against the state totalling $11.9 million.

National Parks Minister Steve Dickson said the changes would cut red tape and streamline the approvals process.

There will be no mining, logging, hunting or open slather grazing in national parks, parliament heard.

"What we are trying to do is simplify the whole act so that it's more cost efficient to run," Mr Dickson told AAP.

"The money that's saved can go back into caring for, maintaining and looking after our national parks, that's what this is all about."


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Source: AAP


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