Letter to the Editor: GKNP is an ‘uplifting, hopeful outcome’

DEAR News Of The Area,

THANK you for publishing the long letter from the Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp, recently.

We all now know that he represents the consistent traditions of the Nationals approach to politics.

Mr Kemp maintains the practice of using division and negative hyperbole about serious issues, clinging on to discredited traditional industrial practices and selective use of scientific evidence.

He is not alone unfortunately as demonstrated by the equally histrionic outbursts by his Nationals colleagues, the Members for Coffs Harbour and Clarence.

Issues relating to species extinction, forest conservation and biodiversity, let alone climate change, require sensible, measured, informed and collaborative approaches to identify solutions that represent an investment in a sustainable and peaceful future.

The latter approach is disappointingly absent from Mr Kemp’s at times vitriolic rant.

To be clear, the Labor Party has taken the policy of establishment of a Great Koala National Park to the past three elections with details of inclusions (maps) and clear commitments to a supported transition for the impacted timber industry.

There have been ongoing negotiations with industry since the election of the Minns Government in the lead up to the announcement of the Park on 7 September.

There was the notable inclusion of an $80 mil allocation in the last State budget so there can be no basis to the claim that the declaration came as a surprise to the industry or to the community.

Mr Kemp’s claim that “Labor Government that is being bulldozed by Penny Sharpe and activists…” is baseless at best given the much publicised support of successive Coalition governments for koala conservation, as ineffective as it may have been, and the obvious fact that the Hon Penny Sharpe MLC is the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

Mr Kemp’s selective and misleading use of data and references flies in the face of numerous reports from the NSW Chief Scientist and others, with the statement in report of the NSW Koala Strategy, “The 2020 Legislative Council inquiry into NSW koala populations and habitat concluded that, without action, koalas in New South Wales could be extinct by 2050.” Much of this work occurred under a NSW Coalition Government.

The most disappointing aspect of Mr Kemp’s letter is the ignorance of the potential opportunities that will come from a GKNP.

The ability to expand the eco-tourism industry based on the promotion of the internationally iconic image of koalas, that can rival that of pandas, is enormous.

These will be sustainable jobs into the future.

There are also credible reports that “GKNP could generate more than $300m through Australia’s carbon credit scheme over the next 15 years if a moratorium on timber logging remains.”

Finally, there are the missing references to the Government announced assistance measures for impacted workers and businesses, including JobKeeper-style payments to cover salaries and financial assistance towards business operating costs.

Workers and their families will also have immediate free access to mental health and legal counselling services and training support.

There may also be assistance with relocation costs if needed.

I also support a timber industry, a sustainable one producing high value added products, not one based on subsidised habitat destruction for low value applications of our precious natural resources.

The creation of a Great Koala National Park is an uplifting, hopeful outcome, sensible and forward focused.

Regards,
Paul SEKFY JP,
Yarranbella.