STARCKE - TRUST ABORIGINAL PEOPLE TO CARE FOR COUNTRY
WILDERNESS SOCIETY RESPONDS TO GOSS STARCKE BUY BACK
The Wilderness Society gave two cheers today to the announcement that
Starcke will be resumed by the Queensland Government and that an inquiry
into the land deals would be established, but is holding its breath
waiting for the return of Starcke to its traditional custodians.
While welcoming the move to stop the threatened overseas sale of Starcke,
and regaining the land from controversial North Queensland developer
George Quaid, the Wilderness Society has a real fear that the aspirations
of the Aboriginal people will be given only token recognition.
"The fine print of the State Government's acquisition plan is that once
Starcke is protected, the traditional custodians will be granted title to
small patches of land. This is just a continuation of the 200 year old
policy of dispossession of the Aboriginal people." said Greg Sargent,
spokesperson for The Wilderness Society.
"The State Government have said that they want to see the overseas sale
blocked, and that's great. They have said the land will be recovered from
George Quaid Holdings, and that's even better, but they have failed to
recognise the only people with the skill, experience and energy to
properly manage and protect this vast area. The traditional custodians
have once again been ignored."
"From day one of this campaign, we have insisted that the land be
returned to its traditional custodians, so they can negotiate the proper
management of the area from a position of strength. We are surprised that
the Government intends to declare all of Starcke as National Park as we
have never called for this."
"With recent approvals by the Goss Government of cablecars and golf
courses in National Parks, there is no guarantee that Starcke will be
protected by becoming National Park."
" We believe that the land should first be made available for claim by
the Aboriginal people before negotiation on protection begins. That
protection should be gained through Section 38 of the Queensland Nature
Conservation Act, if it is ever passed into law."
"Premier Goss is missing a golden opportunity for genuine reconciliation
in the International Year of The Worlds Indigenous People by not trusting
Aboriginal people to decide the future of their land as land holders in
their own right." Sargent concluded.
ENDS
Further information : Greg Sargent (070) 412066 or (070) 518967
Mick Winer (06) 2575122