Irwin gives approval to $2.6m dugong protection plan
Bob Irwin has applauded a Coalition plan to sink an extra $2.6 million into dugong and sea turtle protection.
Outspoken Cairns animal activist Colin Riddell hugged Leichhardt LNP candidate Warren Entsch yesterday after his party's environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, made the announcement.
The plan, to boost indigenous ranger programs to stop illegal and turtle poaching, and for programs to clean up marine debris, was among several green policies announced by the Coalition in Cairns yesterday.
Mr Hunt also promised:
- $3 million in grants for farmers, in addition to existing programs, to help reduce pesticide run-off into the Great Barrier Reef.
- $2 million for an "eradication plan" for the Crown of Thorns starfish, a major pest on the Great Barrier Reef.
- $250,000 for two "Green Army" projects employing 20 people to rehabilitate 80ha of Cape Tribulation and Cape York rainforest.
"It's a very pleasing experience for me to actually be amongst politicians who have the guts and determination to care about our environment," Mr Irwin, father of late Crocodile Hunter Steve, said.
"As we all know, the whole of Australia is faced with an environmental crisis and it takes people like Greg Hunt and Warren Entsch to actually start the ball rolling."
But Leichhardt Labor MP Jim Turnour said he already had the ball rolling, with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority already working with indigenous communities to protect dugongs and sea turtles.
"It sounds very much like after a lot of rhetoric and talk (the Coalition) are now talking about doing exactly what the Government is doing," Mr Turnour said.
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Support: Bob Irwin has praised the Coalition's plans to protect dugongs and turtles in the Far North.
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