Coalition seeks to hide the past on Vegetation Laws

Date:  05 February 2010

Coalition seeks to hide the past on Vegetation Laws

5^th February 2010

Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly has today welcomed the news that both Labor and Coalition Senators voted for a Senate inquiry into state vegetation laws, but expressed disappointment that the extent of the inquiry is being nobbled by the Coalition

In a move that can only be explained as the Coalition trying to deceive the public and protect themselves from criticism, Coalition Senators have voted against amendments that would have allowed this Senate Inquiry to investigate the actions of the Howard Government.

Government Senators also supported a two month extension allowing farmers more time to make submissions to the Committee which was also opposed by the Coalition.

Dr Kelly said: "The Coalition is not interested in getting to the bottom of this issue and admitting their past mistakes and would instead prefer to deceive the public by constraining the terms of reference that this committee can investigate."

"Mr Abbott and the Coalition need to come clean about their involvement in this issue and provide the public with some straight answers," said Dr Kelly

Earlier this week Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce both grandstanded during the farmers' rally this week saying.

"It wouldn't matter what the Prime Minister thought, or what the Minister for Agriculture thought about the issues you are raising, they owe it to you (farmers) to give you a fair go."

Tony Abbott, Farmers rally Parliament House, Tuesday, 2 February 2010

"We would prefer to see high environmental value timber preserved, but we are not proposing any additional policies directly on the subject of land clearing."

Tony Abbott, Parliament House press conference, Tuesday, 2 February 2009 (same day)

The Coalition wants to bury the past and it needs to be asked what they they are hiding?

Dr Kelly said:"The issue of native vegetation laws is highly complicated and we need transparency from both sides of politics to ensure that farmers and the community in general know the involvement of the Howard Government in this situation"

I find extraordinary that Mr Abbott and Senator Joyce can say one thing to farmers and then within 48 hours oppose the means that allow a Senate Committee to investigate their involvement

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