February 18, 2010

Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker today called on the Clarence Valley community to send Canberra a clear message that they want the bats removed from Maclean. Mr Hartsuyker launched a petition which seeks support for his Private Members Bill on the bat issue.

Under the Bill, the Federal Minister for the Environment will be granted emergency powers which will allow him to authorise the removal of species where there is a public health risk. Mr Hartsuyker, who was joined at the launch by The Nationals’ Federal candidate for Page, Kevin Hogan, called on the community to support the petition.

“This is a public health issue and it needs to be addressed now,” Mr Hartsuyker said. “What is it going to take before the Government acts – a student to become ill or the school declared a health and safety hazard? The management of this issue by the Federal and State Governments has descended into a farce.

“The people have been ignored, the treatment of the Maclean High School P and C has been deplorable and the failure of Janelle Saffin to represent her constituents is a disgrace. It is high time the welfare of the people was put ahead of the interest of the bats. All we have seen is one big bureaucratic merry go round. Peter Garrett, Janelle Saffin and a bunch of bureaucrats have never had any intention of allowing these bats to be removed.

“They have all been hiding behind each other to ensure nothing is done. I congratulate the P and C and the wider school community for standing up to both the Government and the Maclean Bat Working Group whose only achievement has been to silence the voice of the school community. I can certainly understand why the P and C have withdrawn from the Working Group.

“Last Friday’s comments by Janelle Saffin that the school should be moved so the bats can stay show how out of touch she is with her constituency. More than 50 per cent of those who attend the school live in her electorate and yet she has failed to stand up for them.

“Ms Saffin’s views are extreme. As bats continue to defecate over the school and the surrounding community, Ms Saffin has consistently resisted calls for the bats to be relocated. To then suggest that tens of millions of dollars should be spent relocating the school and TAFE is ridiculous."

Mr Hartsuyker said the Member for Page was not being genuine with the P and C by suggesting they lodge an application for a licence to remove the bats.

“From the very first meeting of the Working Group last year the bureaucrats made it clear that they would not support a licence application to remove the bats. That has provided political cover for Minister Garrett because he can’t approve an application until he receives one. And his department wants to ensure he never receives an application. So Ms Saffin has a hide to now front up to the P and C and advise them to lodge an application for a licence. It’s nothing more than a smokescreen”

Mr Hartsuyker said the emergency power detailed in the Bill would place pressure on Peter Garrett to deliver.  It is important to get as many signatures as possible on the petition. The petition will be widely circulated over the coming weeks and I encourage all Clarence Valley residents to get behind it. This is the time where politicians must listen to people power. In this case the welfare of people must be put before the welfare of bats.”