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Improved protection for wetlands

Improved protection for Queensland wetlands

The Gillard Labor Government will increase its investment in the Queensland Wetlands Program to help protect and manage Queensland wetlands.

The Minister for Environment Protection, Peter Garrett, made the announcement during a visit with the Labor Member for Longman, Jon Sullivan.

“The Queensland Wetlands Program is a valuable partnership between the Federal and Queensland Governments, helping to protect and improve the health of our wetlands.

“For more than a decade the former Coalition Government neglected Australia’s wetlands and underestimated their critical environmental importance in filtering nutrients and pollutants and as a haven for bird and animal life.

“In stark contrast, the Gillard Labor Government has made significant investments in wetland health and restoration work both here in Queensland and right around the country.

“That is why we have made wetlands a priority for funding under the Caring for our Country program and have invested more than $22.3 million in the first two years of the program in wetlands projects.

“That includes $5.3 million for the Moreton Bay Ramsar site and coastal hotspot, which is one of Australia’s 64 wetlands of international significance listed under the Ramsar Convention.”

Labor Member for Longman, Jon Sullivan, said: “Locally, Pumicestone Passage and Deception Bay are important parts of the Moreton Bay Ramsar site, and are kept in good shape in large part thanks to the efforts of the many volunteers who work so hard.”

“This welcome investment will support those efforts and help the Queensland Wetland Program continue setting the pace for wetland management around the country,” Mr Sullivan said.

Future work under the Queensland Wetlands Program will include actions to:

* Support the management of Queensland’s Ramsar listed wetlands.
* Encourage community engagement, education and awareness of wetland issues.
* Improve mapping Queensland’s wetlands.
* Support agricultural industries to work in harmony with wetland management.
* Further research into the contribution Queensland’s wetlands make to vital migratory bird habitat.

The commitment from the Gillard Labor Government of almost $2 million over four years is matched by the Queensland Government through the Q2 Coast and Country fund.

This new commitment is already funded in the Budget, through existing allocations under the Caring for our Country Program.