• Cripps meets with Cape York community and business leaders

• Community concerns over Labor’s anti-economic development policies

• LNP recognises future potential of region for Queensland

Shadow Northern Development Minister Andrew Cripps has met with local Cape York business and community leaders, as concern grows over Labor’s plans to deny the region major economic development opportunities.

Mr Cripps said Cape York Sustainable Futures, the Lakeland Progress Association and AgForce Queensland had convened a community forum in response to a wave of anti-rural and agriculture policies from the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“Whether it’s overturning the LNP’s vegetation management and water planning reforms, or trying to deny regional Queensland fair and reasonable democratic representation, Labor has launched an attack on regional Queensland, especially Cape York,” Mr Cripps said.

“Captured by the Greens, Labor will roll out a new generation of anti-economic development policies that will hurt regional Queensland, especially Cape York, where there is so much future potential.

“The LNP’s track record on Cape York has included opportunities for economic development through positive vegetation, water and rural land management reforms, repealing Wild River laws, encouraging resource projects and providing opportunities for indigenous Queenslanders to own their own homes.

“Local community and industry groups are rightly concerned about their future under Labor, but the Palaszczuk Government isn’t listening to them, and is instead rolling back the progress made under the former LNP Government to improve the region’s economy and provide employment opportunities for future generations.

“The people and communities of Cape York are aware of the stranglehold the Greens have over the Palaszczuk Government’s policy agenda and they are sick and tired of being held back by extreme activist groups based in Brisbane.”

Mr Cripps congratulated Cape York Sustainable Futures, the Lakeland Progress Association and AgForce Queensland for organising the forum to raise the awareness of local communities about Labor’s campaign against regional Queensland.

Labor’s attacks on Cape York:

• Repealing the LNP’s common sense vegetation management laws while slapping further restrictions on landholders on the Eastern Cape York Peninsula
• Repealing the LNP’s changes to the Water Act, which would allow major economic development opportunities for communities across the Cape