Rudd’s Razor Gang places local Landcare projects at risk

March 19, 2008

The Nationals Federal Member for Cowper, Luke Hartsuyker, has called on the Rudd Government to guarantee funding for local Landcare groups will not be cut by Kevin Rudd’s Razor Gang.

Mr Hartsuyker said there were serious concerns funding for environment projects such a Landcare would be cut after the Rudd Government announced their Caring for our Country programme.

 

“Caring for our Country is the Labor Government’s answer to the Howard Government’s highly successful Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and National Action Plan on Salinity and Water Quality (NAP),” Mr Hartsuyker said.

 

“The Howard Government committed $4.5 billion towards these programmes and last year announced funding would be extended for a further five years.  The Coalition also announced that Landcare would be separately-funded to the tune of $151 million over four years.

 

“The Rudd Government has only committed $2.2 billion towards Caring for our Country and there is no specific funding for Landcare.

 

“Catchment Management bodies, which were set up specifically to deliver the NHT programmes, have now only been guaranteed 60 per cent of their average historical funding.  The other 40 per cent may be delivered on a competitive basis.

 

“This is effectively a 40 per cent cut in up front funding for the local Catchment Management Authority. This means community environment programmes such as Landcare could have their funding slashed.

 

“Landcare is one of the real success stories in Australian environmental sustainability. Thousands of local volunteers freely give their time and have delivered some outstanding outcomes on the North Coast.

 

“Diverting funds away from our local community’s needs will not help us address the significant effects of climate change floods, droughts, weeds and feral animals if Australia is to continue to have a sustainable future.

 

“This is another classic case of Labor in Government. One should never look at what they say, only what they do,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

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