Opposition environment policy fails to address hard issues

Environment Minister Jim McGinty says the Opposition has become 'conveniently green' in the lead-up to the State election.

Mr McGinty said the Opposition's environment policy released today was heavy on rhetoric and failed to address the hard issues facing Western Australia's environment.

"All they have succeeded in doing is to identify environmental issues that the Government has been addressing for some time - such as land degradation, dieback control, water quality, the protection of native flora and fauna, and the administration of environmental protection in WA," Mr McGinty said.

"As with most policies already launched by the Opposition, many of the promises are already being undertaken by the Government.

"For example, the creation of regional parks, review of the EPA and Wildlife Conservation Acts, research into the regional impacts of the Greenhouse effect and El Nino, the creation of a waste minimisation authority, and a review of prescribed burning practices.

"It was also this State Government which was responsible for helping ensure that this State has every chance of being selected as the headquarters for the United Nations new solar energy research centre. 

"Any creative thinking that appears in the policy seems to be limited to triggering environmental disaster.

"I am horrified to think that the Opposition would consider washing its hands of its responsibility to the people of WA by privatising EPA assessment procedures.

"The policy raises the spectre of possible mining in all of WA's national parks.  It also appears to leave the door open to the clearing of native vegetation for the establishment of plantations - a practice abolished many years ago."

Mr McGinty said the policy also failed to rule out extensive urban development over groundwater mounds.

"Despite these glaring faults, the remainder of the policy is full of motherhood statements that have no substance or backing.

"While the Opposition makes it promises I cannot forget the old saying that a leopard cannot change its spots," Mr McGinty said.

"The Liberals and Nationals have an abysmal environmental record, and their performance in recent years has been no exception.

"At various times they have opposed the creation of the Mt Lesueur and Shannon National parks, frustrated and fought against the world heritage listing of Shark Bay; supported the barbaric sport of duck-shooting and continually advocated an open slather on the use of nuclear power."

Mr McGinty said the Opposition's newfound interest in the environment was laughable when people took into account that less than six months ago in Perth, the Liberal Party's Federal President Ashley Goldsworthy announced that the environment was a 'dead issue'.

"In a sense Mr Goldsworthy was right - if the Liberals are elected, the effect on WA's environment would be fatal."