Christabel Chamarette *""Senator for [he Greens twA)
Landcare Funding a Tlvo-Edged Sword: Chamarctte
October 28th, 1993
flThe suggestion that the Minister for Primary Industries (Mr Crean) may deny Landcare funding to the States has to be looked at very carefully. If such a move is likely it would be a very serious development, however comments along these lines appear ill-founded," Christabel Chamarette, Greens 0N A) Senator said today.
"The Landcare programs are amongst the most positive initiatives to improve water and land quality and have cross party support at alllevels of govenunent, both State and Federal."
"A blanket hold on Landcare funding would deny money to projects concerned with coastal revegetation, water catclunent protection and reclamation of degraded agricultural land", Senator Chamarette said.
"However, there is a problem in that Aboriginal peoples' present legal entitlements on pastoral leases apply to Wlimproved or unenclosed land. Additional funding for Landcare could lead to closure of lands to the exclusion of Aboriginal peoples unless access was guaranteed by individual pastora1ists or State Governments. If
"While the Landcare program has the total support of The Greens (W A), it would be utterly unacceptable for this issue to be res01ved at the expense of Aboriginal rights at the very time we are waiting to see the Government's native title legislation. This is a prime example of the need for extensive consultations by Govenullent when a range of groups have a significant interest in the outcome."
"My understanding of Mr Crean's position is that native title will simply be One of the considerations when future agreements on Landcare funding arc negotiated with the States. He has made clear that Landcare funding is not contingent on the States' reaction to the High Court decision nor on their response to the native title Jcgislatio~ If Senator Chamarette concluded.
Contact: Christabel Chamarette (06) 277 3790 or 018905321
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