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Abbott pledges to open 'wild rivers' up for development
- From: AAP
- January 12, 2010
FEDERAL Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will launch a campaign to override the Queensland Government's law which stops development along rivers in the state's far north.
Several rivers on Cape York Peninsula have been declared "wild rivers" under Queensland's Wild Rivers Act.
The Queensland Government said the Wild Rivers Act was designed to protect river systems by preventing mining, aquaculture and farming along the river.
Mr Abbott said it denied Aboriginal people economic opportunities.
He will introduce a private member's bill into Federal Parliament to overturn the state law after obtaining legal advice that suggests the Commonwealth can override the state law.
"It's about locking up the land in ways which deny Aboriginal people their legitimate right to use it for their own benefit," Mr Abbott told ABC Radio's AM program today.
"I have got the parliamentary clerk and my distinguished party colleagues learned in the law looking at this matter.
"My intention is to bring a private member's bill before the Parliament when it resumes in early February."
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