NATS TO SHAKE-UP ENVIRONMENT BUREAUCRACY

The Nationals are pledging an overhaul of the environmental management bureaucracy in Victoria with greater emphasis to be placed on delivering practical projects on the ground.

Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan today released the party's environment platform which calls for the disbanding of the Victorian Environment Assessment Council, Victorian Catchment Management Council and the Officer of the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability.

"We have listened to country Victorians who are telling us that there's too many layers of bureaucracy and not enough workers on the ground to make real improvements to the environment," Mr Ryan said.

"The streamlining and restructuring of government organisations will not result in loss of jobs, but it will mean fewer people in city offices writing reports and more people in the field achieving practical outcomes."

The Nationals have also adopted a hardline stance on public land management and will oppose the creation of further National Parks, unless appropriate resources are devoted to their management and other areas of public land are set aside for multi-use.

"As a general principle, The Nationals believe that Victoria's existing 3.6 million hectares of protected areas is enough and if an additional National Park is declared, we will require that an equivalent area of land is excised from the park system and converted to a multi-use reserve," Mr Ryan said.

"We will also ensure enough resourcing of the people and infrastructure needed to allow for proper management.

"We need to start looking after the parks and reserves we have now, before we set aside more areas and prevent reasonable public use. The Bracks Government's 'lock it up and leave it' approach to public land management has resulted in catastrophic bush fires and an invasion of pest plants and animals.

"The Nationals support multiple use of public land including grazing in appropriate areas of the high country and red gum forests."

The Nationals Spokesman for Natural Resources Peter Hall said The Nationals approach to the environment reflected the party's commitment to common sense and practical outcomes. It also demonstrated the party's determination to allow for the creation of economic wealth in rural and regional communities.

"The extreme polices of the greens have never created a job in country Victoria," Mr Hall said.

"Sustainable use of natural resources means real employment opportunities for country people. Our environment policy supports a common sense approach to public land management with the emphasis on sustainable use, not locking up land and neglecting it.

"We support the need to provide opportunities and appropriate facilities for a wide range of uses such as bushwalking, camping, hunting, four-wheel-driving, native timber harvesting and cattle grazing in appropriate areas as part of a balanced approach to environmental management.

"Melbourne Labor MPs have become captive to the extreme greens and we are proposing a more practical approach to managing our vast areas of public reserves."

Under The Nationals policy, the Department of Sustainability and Environment would not be responsible for urban planning, the titles office or the valuer-general.

"The DSE would have a single focus of improving public land management," Mr Hall said.

Other key features of The Nationals plan for the environment include:

· Establishing a Centre of Excellence for Forest and Bushland Management; · Requiring the government car fleet to run on 10% ethanol blended fuel; · $10 million over four years for the next stage of Gippsland Lakes environmental restoration; · Providing for a more prominent role for the Department of Primary Industries to make it responsible for all government activity in relation to private land; · Opposition to the toxic waste dump near Mildura; · Reintroducing the $10 fox tail bounty; · Support for aerial baiting of wild dogs; and · Streamlining native vegetation management legislation.

"Good environmental management and economic growth are not competing objectives," Mr Ryan said.

"The Nationals approach to the environment is science-based and focused on practical outcomes which will deliver real improvements throughout rural and regional Victoria."

Media inquiries: Darren Chester 0418 390 229

CR ROBYN SMITH TO RUN FOR NATIONALS

Tuesday, 4 July, 2006

Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan has today announced Northern Grampians Shire Councillor Robyn Smith as the party's candidate for the Lower House seat of Ripon, at this year's State election.

Mr Ryan has described Cr Smith as 'an outstanding advocate for her region and urged the local community to support her campaign.

"Robyn Smith has a proven track record of achievement through her involvement with the Shire and local community organizations," Mr Ryan said. "With experience as a Councillor, small business owner and a mother, she understands the concerns of local families and has the ability to get results for this community."

Cr Smith, who coordinated the Stawell Bushfire Appeal and successfully raised $180,000 for the victims of the New Year's Eve bushfires, said she was looking forward to the challenge.

"I am running for State Parliament because I believe local residents are disappointed with the way things are being handled at the moment and they are ready for a change," Cr Smith said. "With five years experience in local government, I understand the issues facing country people and I want to make sure that our community gets its fair share of funding and resources.

"I am very passionate about protecting the interests of rural and regional communities and I don't believe we are getting a fair go at the moment.

"Our health and education services are a major concern and we need to be doing more to promote small business growth to help our children secure jobs in country areas.

"The State Government also needs to be investing more in the basic infrastructure like natural gas, reticulated water and sewerage systems and road improvements which city people often take for granted."

Cr Smith said she would run a positive campaign and was keen to talk to as many people as possible in the months ahead.

"I believe the key to being a good Member of Parliament is listening to the concerns of local residents and then taking action," she said.

"As a councilor, I have already had the opportunity to listen to many locals and I believe the next step for me is to take those concerns directly to State Parliament."

Mr Ryan said he believed The Nationals had a good chance to win the seat.

"We will start as the underdogs but we have an outstanding candidate and I think the community has grown tired of the Bracks Government's style of all spin and no substance," Mr Ryan said. "Under Melbourne Labor, we have seen record amounts of money wasted on government advertising propaganda and a lot of promises which have not been delivered.

"The government collects about $100 million a day in revenue from land tax, stamp duty, speeding fines and the returns on the GST. But it has squandered an opportunity to build for the future in country areas and I believe the Ripon electorate is ready for a change."

The Ripon electorate includes the major towns of Ararat, Maryborough and Stawell.

Media contact: Darren Chester (03) 9651 8536 or 0418 390 229 www.peterryan.com.au